Earthquakes and the The Richter Scale
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| Level of damage | The Richter Scale |
|---|---|
| No damage. | ≤ 4.3 |
| Rather Strong. Damage negligible. Small, unstable objects displaced or upset; some dishes and glassware broken. | 4.4 – 4.8 |
| Strong. Damage slight. Windows, dishes, glassware broken. Furniture moved or overturned. Weak plaster and masonry cracked. | 4.9 – 5.4 |
| Very Strong. Damage slight-to-moderate in well-built structures; considerable in poorly-built structures. Furniture and weak chimneys broken. Masonry damaged. Loose bricks, tiles, plaster, and stones will fall. | 5.5 – 6.1 |
| Destructive. Structure damage considerable, particularly to poorly built structures. Chimneys, monuments, towers, elevated tanks may fail. Frame houses moved. Trees damaged. Cracks in wet ground and steep slopes. | 6.2 – 6.5 |
| Ruinous. Structural damage severe; some Structures will collapse. General damage to foundations. Serious damage to reservoirs. Underground pipes broken. Conspicuous cracks in ground; liquefaction. | 6.6 – 6.9 |
| Disastrous. Most masonry and frame structures/foundations destroyed. Some well-built wooden structures and bridges destroyed. Serious damage to dams, dikes, embankments. Sand and mud shifting on beaches and flat land. | 7.0 – 7.3 |
| Very Disastrous. Few or no masonry structures remain standing. Bridges destroyed. Broad fissures in ground. Underground pipelines completely out of service. Rails bent. Widespread earth slumps and landslides. | 7.4 – 8.1 |
| Catastrophic. Damage nearly total. Large rock masses displaces. Lines of sight and level distorted. | > 8.1 |
Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency
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