Intensity Level
(震度分級)
|
Strong Ground Acceleration
(cm/s2,gal)
|
Ground Speed
(cm/s)
|
What People Feel
|
Effects Indoors
|
Effects Outdoors
|
| 0
|
Undetectable
(無感)
|
below 0.8 gal
|
|
Imperceptible to humans
|
|
|
| 1
|
Slight
(微震)
|
0.8-2.5 gal
|
People may feel slight shaking when motionless
|
|
|
| 2
|
Weak
(輕震)
|
2.5-8.0 gal
|
Most people will feel shaking, and some sleepers may wake up
|
Light shaking of dangling objects such as lamps
|
Stationary vehicles shake slightly, similar to when a truck passes by, but only for a short time
|
| 3
|
Light
(弱震)
|
8.0-25 gal
|
Almost everyone will feel shaking, and some may experience fear
|
Houses shake; bowls, plates, doors, windows etc. make noise; dangling objects swing
|
Stationary vehicles shake visibly; power lines sway slightly
|
| 4
|
Moderate
(中震)
|
25-80 gal
|
less than 15 cm/s
|
Will cause a considerable degree of fear; some people will look for shelter, and almost all sleepers will wake up
|
Houses shake violently; objects tumble; heavy furniture moves; slight damage may occur
|
Vehicle drivers feel slight shaking; power lines sway visibly; pedestrians also feel shaking
|
| 5
|
5 Lower
|
Strong
(強震)
|
80 gal and above
|
15–30 cm/s
|
Most people are frightened and panic
|
Some walls crack; heavy furniture may be overturned
|
Vehicle drivers feel obvious shaking; some signboards and chimneys fall or collapse
|
| 5 Upper
|
30–50 cm/s
|
Almost everyone is frightened and panics, and has difficulty walking
|
Large quantities of unsecured items tumble and fall; furniture moves or is overturned; some doors and windows become twisted; some walls crack; a small number of houses with poor seismic resistance may be damaged or collapse
|
Wall tiles fall from some buildings; rockfalls occur in mountainous areas; liquefaction may occur in soft soil; utilities and/or communications may be interrupted in some areas; a small number of brick walls with poor seismic resistance may be damaged or collapse
|
| 6
|
6 Lower
|
Violent
(烈震)
|
50–80 cm/s
|
Violent shaking makes it difficult to remain standing
|
Some buildings are damaged; heavy furniture is overturned; doors and windows twist
|
Drivers have difficulty driving; soil liquefaction is seen
|
| 6 Upper
|
80–140 cm/s
|
Violent shaking makes it almost impossible to stand
|
Lots of furniture moves violently or is overturned; doors and windows become twisted; some houses with poor seismic resistance may be damaged or collapse, and even houses with better seismic resistance may also be damaged
|
Some ground surfaces crack; landslides may occur in mountainous areas; liquefaction occurs in soft soil; utilities and/or communications may be interrupted on a large scale
|
| 7
|
Extreme
(劇震)
|
140 cm/s and above
|
Violent shaking make voluntary action impossible
|
Some buildings are seriously damaged or collapse; almost all furniture moves a long distance or tumbles
|
Landslides occur and fissures appear; railroad tracks are twisted; underground pipelines are damaged
|
