Landslides and Ground Subsidence
The greatest damage to structures is often caused by landslides and ground subsidence triggered by earthquake vibrations. This was the case during the 1964 Alaskan earthquake in Valdez and Seward, where the violent shaking caused deltaic sediments to slump, carrying both waterfronts away. In Valdez, 31 people on a dock died when it slid into the sea. Because of the threat of recurrence, the entire town of Valdez was relocated to more stable ground about 7 kilometers (4 miles) away.