How does shaking ground cause soft sediment to liquefy?

Shaking ground during an earthquake can cause soft sediment to liquefy due to the increased pore water pressure within the sediment. As the ground shakes, the grains of sediment are rearranged, leading to a reduction in contact between them, which allows water to fill the spaces. This process reduces the sediment's load-bearing capacity, effectively transforming it from a solid state to a fluid-like state, resulting in phenomena such as quicksand or mudflows. Consequently, structures built on such liquefied sediments can experience significant instability and damage.