Consider the following statements about hypocentre: I. It is the point from where the energy is released and is called the source of earthquake. II. It is the point from where the earthquake originates and can be many kilometres deep within the Earth. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The hypocentre (or focus) of an earthquake is the actual point within the Earth where the rupture begins and seismic energy is first released. So statement I correctly identifies it as the source of the earthquake. Statement II also correctly notes that the hypocentre lies within the Earth and can be at depths ranging from a few kilometres (shallow focus) to nearly 700 km (deep focus). The point on the Earth's surface directly above the hypocentre is the epicentre. Both statements describe the hypocentre correctly.