Earthquakes are usually caused when rock underground suddenly breaks along a fault. This sudden release of energy causes the seismic waves that make the ground shake. When two blocks of rock or two plates are rubbing against each other, they stick a little. They don't just slide smoothly; the rocks catch on each other. The rocks are still pushing against each other, but not moving. After a while, the rocks break because of all the pressure that's built up. When the rocks break, the earthquake occurs. During the earthquake and afterward, the plates or blocks of rock start moving, and they continue to move until they get stuck again. The spot underground where the rock breaks is called the focus of the earthquake. The place right above the focus (on top of the ground) is called the epicentre of the earthquake.

Haiti Earthquake:
What? A 7.0 magnitude earthquake
When?12th January 2010 at 16.53 local time (21.53 GMT).
Where?The earthquake occurred 18.457°N, 72.533°W. The focus of the earthquake was 13km (8.1 miles) below the surface of the earth.
The short term effects of the Haiti earthquake are· Buildings being destroyed, roads and docks. Making it difficult to get aid to the people who need it. Example food, clean drinking water, clothes, cooking utensils, temporally shelters and most importantly drugs and medicines. · Without clean drinking water and dead bodies rotting in the hot sun the risk of life threatening diseases is expected.The long term effects of the Haiti earthquake are· Economic problems of people trying to re build their houses and business without the availability of money to buy such materials.· Social problems of people who may of lost all their relatives worst of all are the children who have been left with no one to care for them.· Lots of doctors and nurses had to do surgery outside
