Why are surface waves more destructive to buildings than the initial seismic wave in an earthquake?

Surface waves are more destructive to buildings than the initial seismic waves because they travel along the Earth's surface and have larger amplitudes and longer durations. This results in greater ground motion, causing more significant shaking and swaying of structures. Additionally, surface waves can create complex wave patterns that amplify the effects on buildings, leading to increased damage compared to the faster, less damaging primary (P) and secondary (S) waves that arrive first.