3 Nephi 8:14

and many great and notable cities were sunk, and many were burned, and many were shook till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth, and the inhabitants thereof were slain, and the places were left desolate;

Many great cities sank. Many burned. Many shook until the buildings fell down. The people in them died. The places were left empty.

Many great cities sank into the earth. Others burned. Still others were shaken until their buildings collapsed, killing the people inside and leaving the places desolate.