Why do some earthquakes feel more violent than others even at the same magnitude?

Magnitude measures the energy released by an earthquake, but the felt intensity depends on many local conditions. Shallow quakes usually shake harder near the surface, soft sediments can amplify motion, and hard bedrock may transmit waves differently. Distance from the epicentre matters too, as does how buildings are built. This is why two quakes with similar magnitudes can cause very different levels of damage.