Consider the following statements regarding hypocentre: I. It is the point where the energy is released and is called the focus of an earthquake. II. It is the point where the earthquake starts and may be many kilometers deep within the Earth. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Both statements correctly describe the hypocentre of an earthquake. The hypocentre, also called the focus, is the underground point where the earthquake originates and where seismic energy is first released due to rupture along a fault. It typically lies several kilometres beneath the Earth's surface and may be as deep as 700 km in case of deep-focus earthquakes. The point on the Earth's surface directly above the hypocentre is called the epicentre.