• A- A A+

National Center for Seismology

Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India

Image of National Emblem of India
Logo of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav Image of Celebrating 150 years of the Mahatma Image of Swachh Bharat

Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale

Intensity Shaking Description Image
I Instrumental Not felt except by a very few under especially favorable conditions.

Instrumental MMI Scale

II Feeble Felt only by a few persons at rest, especially on upper floors of buildings. Delicately suspended objects may swing.

Feeble MMI Scale

III Slight Felt quite noticeably by persons indoors, especially on the upper floors of buildings. Many do not recognize it as an earthquake. Standing motor cars may rock slightly. Vibration similar to the passing of a truck. Duration estimated.

Slight MMI Scale

IV Moderate Felt indoors by many, outdoors by few during the day. At night, some awakened. Dishes, windows, doors disturbed; walls make cracking sound. Sensation like heavy truck striking building. Standing motor cars rocked noticeably. Dishes and windows rattle alarmingly.

Moderate MMI Scale

V Rather Strong Felt by nearly everyone; many awakened. Some dishes and windows broken. Unstable objects overturned. Clocks may stop

Rather Strong MMI Scale

VI Strong Felt by all; many frightened and run outdoors, walk unsteadily. Windows, dishes, glassware broken; books off shelves; some heavy furniture moved or overturned; a few instances of fallen plaster. Damage slight.

Strong MMI Scale

VII Very Strong Difficult to stand; furniture broken; damage negligible in building of good design and construction; slight to moderate in well-built ordinary structures; considerable damage in poorly built or badly designed structures; some chimneys broken. Noticed by persons driving motor cars.

Very Strong MMI Scale

VIII Destructive Damage slight in specially designed structures; considerable in ordinary substantial buildings with partial collapse. Damage great in poorly built structures. Fall of chimneys, factory stacks, columns, monuments, walls. Heavy furniture moved.

Destructive MMI Scale

IX Ruinous General panic; damage considerable in specially designed structures, well-designed frame structures thrown out of plumb. Damage great in substantial buildings, with partial collapse. Buildings shifted off foundations.

Ruinous MMI Scale

X Disastrous Some well built wooden structures destroyed; most masonry and frame structures destroyed with foundation. Rails bent.

Disastrous MMI Scale

XI Very Disastrous​ Few, if any masonry structures remain standing. Bridges destroyed. Rails bent greatly.

Very Disastrous MMI Scale

XII Catastrophic Total damage - Almost everything is destroyed. Lines of sight and level distorted. Objects are thrown into the air. The ground moves in waves or ripples. Large amounts of rock may move.

Catastrophic MMI Scale

Back To Previous Page | Last modified date : 05-04-2022