Allah (swt) talks about this natural phenomenon that happens to the earth a lot. He (swt) says:

 ﴾إِذَا رُجَّتِ الْأَرْضُ رَجًّا ٰ﴿

(When the earth is shaken with convulsion.) (Al-Waaqia: 4-7)

The earthquake which is meant in this Surah is not an earthquake that we know which demolishes houses or even uproots some villages and countries. These are merely universal signs to prove the truthfulness of the speech of Allah (swt) and alerts humans to the great earthquake in the Hereafter. Hence, It is a simple example of what will happen in the Hereafter, so that, we will not be deceived with our power in this world. Allah (swt) describes this earthquake on the Day of Judgment as a terrible thing. Allah (swt) says:

  ٰ﴾يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ زَلْزَلَةَ السَّاعَةِ شَيْءٌ عَظِيمٌ﴿

(O mankind, fear your Lord. Indeed, the convulsion of the [final] Hour is a terrible thing.) (Al-Hajj: 1)

We can imagine how horror this earthquake is, so that it is described as great by Allah (swt) the Great. However, the earth is not standing-alone, but it is based on Allah’s s will and power, if He (swt) wills it to pass away, it will pass away.

In this verse, the earthquake is added to the earth, but it is not as the familiar earthquake. The earthquake of this world does not continue for long. As for the afterlife earthquake, it does not settle down; its shaking and movement continue until everything on it is broken, whether a mountain, a city, a building, or a tree. Therefore, it is a great disorder that destroys the structure.