What causes earthquaes?

Earthquakes are primarily caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, often due to tectonic plate movements. These plates can collide, pull apart, or slide past one another, creating stress that eventually leads to a fracture or fault slipping. Other causes can include volcanic activity, human activities such as mining or reservoir-induced seismicity, and even the collapse of underground cavities. When this energy is released, it generates seismic waves that we feel as shaking on the Earth's surface.