Liquefaction
The loss of soil strength during shaking, when saturated loose sediment temporarily behaves as a liquid.
Liquefaction requires loose granular soil, saturation and sufficient shaking. Where those coincide — commonly in valley fill and near rivers — foundations can settle or fail even when the structure itself is sound.
Mitigation means ground improvement or deep foundations, both of which are expensive. Shallow groundwater plus young alluvial soils is the combination worth flagging early.
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