Soil liquefaction occurs when , because of the shaking , water-saturated granular material ( such as sand ) temporarily loses its strength and transforms from a solid to a liquid . Soil liquefaction may cause rigid structures , like buildings and bridges , to tilt or sink into the liquefied deposits . For example , in the 1964 Alaska earthquake , soil liquefaction caused many buildings to sink into the ground , eventually collapsing upon themselves
1964 Alaska earthquake
1964 Alaska earthquake
Earthquake