The extent of damage caused by earthake is not influenced by which one of the following ?

The extent of damage caused by an earthquake is determined by several physical and socio-economic factors. The strength or magnitude of the earthquake is a primary factor, as higher energy release generally correlates with greater destruction [3]. Population density significantly influences the scale of casualties and property loss, as densely populated urban centers with high-rise buildings are more vulnerable than sparsely populated rural areas [1]. The type of building and construction quality are also critical; poorly designed structures often collapse, while earthquake-resistant designs can survive with minimal damage [2]. While local geology and soil conditions can amplify shaking, the general climate of the area (temperature, rainfall, or humidity) does not directly influence the seismic energy or the immediate structural damage caused by the ground shaking itself. Therefore, climate is not considered a primary factor in determining earthquake damage extent.

Sources

1. [3] https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-magnitude-does-damage-begin-occur-earthquake
2. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 14: Earthquakes > 14.5. Richter Magnitude Scale > p. 183
3. [2] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > Earthquakes in India > p. 74