An earthquake is the sudden shaking of the ground caused by the movement of tectonic plates beneath the Earth’s surface. When built-up pressure along faults is released, it produces seismic waves that make the ground vibrate. Earthquakes can range from weak tremors to powerful events that cause significant damage. 

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), earthquakes are a natural part of Earth’s normal processes. They occur more frequently in the Philippines due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for active faults and volcanoes. The country experiences an average of 200–250 earthquakes each year, most of which are low in magnitude and cause minimal impact.

Tectonic earthquakes are generated by the sudden displacement along faults and plate boundaries. Earthquakes induced by rising lava or magma beneath active volcanoes is called volcanic earthquakes.