How long do most earthquakes last?

How long do most earthquakes last?

Tom Jordan (Director, Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC)) gives expert video advice on: What is the probability of a severe earthquake striking a major city?; Where do earthquakes most often occur?; What are the most common earthquake myths? and more...

Earthquakes can last different periods of time depending on their size. Small earthquakes typically last only a few seconds. A large earthquake, such as the 24 earthquake which occurred in Sumatra, can last for many minutes.