Modified Mercalli Scale

Question 1

Intensity where it is perceptible to people under favorable circumstances

Answer 1

Intensity I - Scarcely Perceptible

Question 2

Intensity where delicately balance objects are disturbed slightly

Answer 2

Intensity I - Scarcely Perceptible

Question 3

Intensity where still water in containers oscillates slowly

Answer 3

Intensity I - Scarcely Perceptible

Question 4

Intensity where it is felt by few individuals at rest indoors

Answer 4

Intensity II - Slightly Felt

Question 5

Intensity where hanging objects swing slightly

Answer 5

Intensity II - Slightly Felt

Question 6

Intensity where still water in containers oscillates noticeably

Answer 6

Intensity II - Slightly Felt

Question 7

Intensity where it is felt by many people indoors especially in upper floors of buildings

Answer 7

Intensity III - Weak

Question 8

Intensity where vibration is felt like one passing of a light truck

Answer 8

Intensity III - Weak

Question 9

Intensity where dizziness and nausea are experienced by some people

Answer 9

Intensity III - Weak

Question 10

Intensity where hanging objects swing moderately

Answer 10

Intensity III - Weak

Question 11

Intensity where still water in containers oscillates moderately

Answer 11

Intensity III - Weak

Question 12

Intensity where it is felt generally by people indoors and by some people outdoors

Answer 12

Intensity IV - Moderately Strong

Question 13

Intensity where light sleepers are awakened

Answer 13

Intensity IV - Moderately Strong

Question 14

Intensity where vibration is felt like a passing of heavy truck

Answer 14

Intensity IV - Moderately Strong

Question 15

Intensity where hanging objects swing considerably

Answer 15

Intensity IV - Moderately Strong

Question 16

Intensity where dinner, plates, glasses, windows, and doors rattle

Answer 16

Intensity IV - Moderately Strong

Question 17

Intensity where floors and walls of wood framed buildings creak

Answer 17

Intensity IV - Moderately Strong

Question 18

Intensity where standing motor cars may rock slightly

Answer 18

Intensity IV - Moderately Strong

Question 19

Intensity where liquids in containers are slightly disturbed

Answer 19

Intensity IV - Moderately Strong

Question 20

Intensity where water in containers oscillate strongly

Answer 20

Intensity IV - Moderately Strong

Question 21

Intensity where rumbling sound may sometimes be heard

Answer 21

Intensity IV - Moderately Strong

Question 22

Intensity where it is generally felt by most people indoors and outdoors

Answer 22

Intensity V - Strong

Question 23

Intensity where some are frightened, some run outdoors

Answer 23

Intensity V - Strong

Question 24

Intensity where strong shaking and rocking felt throughout building

Answer 24

Intensity V - Strong

Question 25

Intensity where hanging objects swing violently

Answer 25

Intensity V - Strong

Question 26

Intensity where dining utensils clatter and clink; some are broken

Answer 26

Intensity V - Strong

Question 27

Intensity where small, light and unstable objects may fall or overturn

Answer 27

Intensity V - Strong

Question 28

Intensity where liquids spill from filled open containers

Answer 28

Intensity V - Strong

Question 29

Intensity where standing vehicles rock noticeably

Answer 29

Intensity V - Strong

Question 30

Intensity where shaking of leaves and twigs of trees are noticeable

Answer 30

Intensity V - Strong

Question 31

Intensity where many people are frightened; many run outdoors

Answer 31

Intensity VI - Very Strong

Question 32

Intensity where some people lose their balance

Answer 32

Intensity VI - Very Strong

Question 33

Intensity where motorists feel like driving in flat tires

Answer 33

Intensity VI - Very Strong

Question 34

Intensity where heavy objects or furniture move or may be shifted

Answer 34

Intensity VI - Very Strong

Question 35

Intensity where small church bells may ring

Answer 35

Intensity VI - Very Strong

Question 36

Intensity where wall plaster may crack

Answer 36

Intensity VI - Very Strong

Question 37

Intensity where very old or poorly built houses and man-made structures are slightly damaged though well-built structures are not affected

Answer 37

Intensity VI - Very Strong

Question 38

Intensity where limited rockfalls and rolling boulders occur in hilly to mountainous areas and escarpments

Answer 38

Intensity VI - Very Strong

Question 39

Intensity where trees are noticeably shaken

Answer 39

Intensity VI - Very Strong

Question 40

Intensity where most people are frightened and run outdoors

Answer 40

Intensity VII - Destructive

Question 41

Intensity where people find it difficult to stand in upper floors

Answer 41

Intensity VII - Destructive

Question 42

Intensity where heavy objects and furniture overturn or topple

Answer 42

Intensity VII - Destructive

Question 43

Intensity where big church bell may ring

Answer 43

Intensity VII - Destructive

Question 44

Intensity where old or poorly built structures suffer considerably damage

Answer 44

Intensity VII - Destructive

Question 45

Intensity where some well built structures are slightly damage

Answer 45

Intensity VII - Destructive

Question 46

Intensity where some cracks may appear on dikes, fish ponds, road surface, or concrete hollow block walls

Answer 46

Intensity VII - Destructive

Question 47

Intensity where limited liquefaction, lateral spreading and landslide are observed

Answer 47

Intensity VII - Destructive

Question 48

Intensity where trees are shaken strongly

Answer 48

Intensity VII - Destructive

Question 49

Intensity where people are panicky

Answer 49

Intensity VIII - Very Destructive

Question 50

Intensity where people find it difficult to stand even outdoors

Answer 50

Intensity VIII - Very Destructive

Question 51

Intensity where many well built buildings are considerably damaged

Answer 51

Intensity VIII - Very Destructive

Question 52

Intensity where concrete dikes and foundation of bridges are destroyed by ground settling or toppling

Answer 52

Intensity VIII - Very Destructive

Question 53

Intensity where railway tracks are bent or broken

Answer 53

Intensity VIII - Very Destructive

Question 54

Intensity where tombstones may be displaced, twisted or overturned

Answer 54

Intensity VIII - Very Destructive

Question 55

Intensity where utility posts, towers and monuments may tilt or topple

Answer 55

Intensity VIII - Very Destructive

Question 56

Intensity where water and sewer pipes may be bent, twisted or broken

Answer 56

Intensity VIII - Very Destructive

Question 57

Intensity where liquefaction and lateral spreading cause man-made structure to sink, tilt or topple

Answer 57

Intensity VIII - Very Destructive

Question 58

Intensity where numerous landslides and rockfalls occur in mountainous and hilly areas

Answer 58

Intensity VIII - Very Destructive

Question 59

Intensity where boulders are thrown out from their positions particularly near the epicenter

Answer 59

Intensity VIII - Very Destructive

Question 60

Intensity where fissures and faults rapture may be observed

Answer 60

Intensity VIII - Very Destructive

Question 61

Intensity where trees are violently shaken

Answer 61

Intensity VIII - Very Destructive

Question 62

Intensity where water splash or stop over dikes or banks of rivers

Answer 62

Intensity VIII - Very Destructive

Question 63

Intensity where people are forcibly thrown to ground.

Answer 63

Intensity IX - Devastating

Question 64

Intensity where many cry and shaken with fear

Answer 64

Intensity IX - Devastating

Question 65

Intensity where most buildings are totally damaged

Answer 65

Intensity IX - Devastating

Question 66

Intensity where bridges and elevated concrete structures are toppled or destroyed

Answer 66

Intensity IX - Devastating

Question 67

Intensity where numerous utility posts, towers and monument are tilted, toppled or broken

Answer 67

Intensity IX - Devastating

Question 68

Intensity where water sewer pipes are bent, twisted or broken

Answer 68

Intensity IX - Devastating

Question 69

Intensity where landslides, liquefaction with lateral spreadings and sandboils are widespread

Answer 69

Intensity IX - Devastating

Question 70

Intensity where the ground is distorted into undulations

Answer 70

Intensity IX - Devastating

Question 71

Intensity where trees are shaken very violently with some toppled or broken

Answer 71

Intensity IX - Devastating

Question 72

Intensity where boulders are commonly thrown out

Answer 72

Intensity IX - Devastating

Question 73

Intensity where river water splashes violently on slops over dikes and banks

Answer 73

Intensity IX - Devastating

Question 74

Intensity where practically all man-made structures are destroyed

Answer 74

Intensity X - Completely Devastating

Question 75

Intensity where massive landslides and liquefaction, large scale subsidence and uplifting of land forms many ground fissures are observed

Answer 75

Intensity X - Completely Devastating

Question 76

Intensity where changes in river courses and destructive seiches in large lakes occur

Answer 76

Intensity X - Completely Devastating

Question 77

Intensity where many trees are toppled broken and uprooted

Answer 77

Intensity X - Completely Devastating