Statement 1: Most of the earthquakes take place in the Mediterranean Himalayan belt.

Explanation:
- The Mediterranean Himalayan belt, also known as the Alpine-Himalayan belt, is a major tectonic plate boundary that extends from the Mediterranean region to the Himalayas.
- This belt is characterized by intense tectonic activity, including the collision of the African Plate with the Eurasian Plate, resulting in the formation of mountain ranges such as the Alps, the Himalayas, and the Zagros.
- Due to the collision and convergence of these plates, the Mediterranean Himalayan belt experiences frequent earthquakes.
- However, it is important to note that while this region experiences a significant number of earthquakes, it does not account for the majority of earthquakes worldwide.
- Earthquakes occur in various other regions as well, particularly along other plate boundaries such as the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Statement 2: The world distribution of earthquakes coincides very closely with that of volcanoes.

Explanation:
- The distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes is closely related to tectonic plate boundaries.
- Most earthquakes occur along plate boundaries, where the movement and interaction of tectonic plates result in the release of energy in the form of seismic waves.
- Similarly, volcanoes are also commonly found at plate boundaries, where magma from the Earth's mantle rises to the surface, often causing volcanic eruptions.
- The correlation between earthquakes and volcanoes is due to the shared underlying mechanism of plate tectonics.
- However, it is important to note that not all earthquakes are associated with volcanoes, and vice versa.
- There are also intra-plate earthquakes that occur within the interior of tectonic plates, away from plate boundaries.
- These earthquakes are often caused by other factors such as the release of stress within the Earth's crust or the movement of faults within the plate.

Conclusion:
- Based on the explanations provided, it can be concluded that Statement 2 only is correct.
- The distribution of earthquakes closely coincides with that of volcanoes, as both are primarily associated with tectonic plate boundaries.
- However, Statement 1 is incorrect as most earthquakes do not take place exclusively in the Mediterranean Himalayan belt, but occur in various regions around the world, particularly along plate boundaries.

B) 2 only