Question

Which seismic waves are generally the first to arrive after an earthquake

Answer 1

P-waves are the first to arrive at a seismic station.
There are two major types of waves: Body waves and surface waves. P-waves and S-waves come under Body waves while Love and Rayleigh waves come under surface waves. Body waves are much faster than the Surface waves.

Answer 2

The P wave is designated the primary preliminary wave because it is the first to arrive at a seismic station after an earthquake. It travels at a speed usually less than 6 kilometers per second in the Earth's crust and jumps to 13 kilometers per second through the core.