The risk of a building collapsing during an earthquake depends not only on the earthquake’s strength but also on how its frequency matches the building’s natural frequency. Every structure has a natural frequency at which it naturally vibrates. If the earthquake’s vibrations align with this frequency, a phenomenon called resonance occurs, where the vibrations are amplified, making the building more likely to collapse. Taller buildings are typically more unstable at lower frequencies, while short

Footage shows impact of 7.3m earthquake felt in Japan