Earthquake
magnitude and intensity scales compared
|
| Richter
magnitude |
Equivalent energy
in weight of TNT
|
Equivalent
energy in Hiroshima-size atomic bombs |
Mercalli
intensity near epicenter |
Witnessed
observations |
| 3-4 |
15 tons |
1/100 |
II-III |
Feels
like vibration of nearby truck |
| 4-5 |
480 tons |
3/100 |
IV-V |
Small
objects upset, sleepers awaken |
| 5-6 |
15,000
tons |
1 |
VI-VII |
Difficult
to stand, damage to masonry |
| 6-7 |
475,000
tons |
37 |
VII-VIII |
General
panic, some walls fall |
| 7-8 |
15,000,000
tons |
1160 |
IX-XI |
Wholesale
destruction, large landslides |
| 8-9 |
475,000,000
tons |
36,700 |
XI-XII |
Total
damage, waves seen on ground surface |
