EarthQuake Sounds

As a rule, the beginning of the sound precedes the first shock to be felt, the largest sound accompanies the greatest shaking, and the end of the sound coincides with the end of the shaking. There are many exceptions to this rule but, it´s difficult to assemble reliable statistics to this phenomenon. The sounds are described in various ways but, they are usually consistent as low and booming. Very near the source the sound sometimes includes sharp snaps that suggest the tearing apart of great blocks of rock. Farther away, the sounds are likened to heavy vehicles passing rapidly over hard roads, the dragging of heavy boxes over the floor, a loud but distant clap of thunder, an explosion, and the boom of a distant cannon.