Most earthquakes occur along the edges of tectonic plates, especially around the Pacific Ocean in a region known as the "Ring of Fire." This area accounts for over 80% of the world's large earthquakes and is the most seismically and volcanically active zone globally, where the Pacific plate is subducted beneath surrounding plates
. Other significant earthquake zones include:
- The Alpide Belt, which extends from Southeast Asia across the Himalayas and into the Mediterranean, accounting for about 17% of earthquakes worldwide
- The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, an underwater mountain range in the Atlantic Ocean where tectonic plates diverge, also experiences seismic activity but less frequently
In summary, most earthquakes happen at or near plate boundaries where plates collide, slide past, or move away from each other. These interactions cause faults and stress buildup that release energy as earthquakes
. While earthquakes can occur away from plate boundaries, such events are less common and usually less powerful
