Galloway, D D. 2017. Bulletin of British Earthquakes 2016. Nottingham, UK, British geological Survey. (OR/17/061).
1 – Not felt
Not felt, even under the most favourable circumstances.
2 – Scarcely felt
Vibration is felt only by individual people at rest in houses, especially on upper floors of buildings.
3 – Weak
The vibration is weak and is felt indoors by a few people. People at rest feel a swaying or light trembling.
4 – Largely observed
The earthquake is felt indoors by many people, outdoors by very few. A few people are awakened. The level of vibration is not frightening. Windows, doors and dishes rattle. Hanging objects swing.
5 – Strong
The earthquake is felt indoors by most, outdoors by few. Many sleeping people awake. A few run outdoors. Buildings tremble throughout. Hanging objects swing considerably. China and glasses clatter together. The vibration is strong. Top heavy objects topple over. Doors and windows swing open or shut.
6 – Slightly damaging
Felt by most indoors and by many outdoors. Many people in buildings are frightened and run outdoors. Small objects fall. Slight damage to many ordinary buildings e.g.; fine cracks in plaster and small pieces of plaster fall.
7 – Damaging
Most people are frightened and run outdoors. Furniture is shifted and objects fall from shelves in large numbers. Many ordinary buildings suffer moderate damage: small cracks in walls; partial collapse of chimneys.
8 – Heavily damaging
Furniture may be overturned. Many ordinary buildings suffer damage: chimneys fall; large cracks appear in walls and a few buildings may partially collapse.
9 – Destructive
Monuments and columns fall or are twisted. Many ordinary buildings partially collapse and a few collapse completely.
10 – Very destructive
Many ordinary buildings collapse.
11 – Devastating
Most ordinary buildings collapse.
12 – Completely devastating
Practically all structures above and below ground are heavily damaged or destroyed.
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A complete description of the EMS-98 scale is given in: Grünthal, G. (ed) 1998. European Macroseismic scale 1998. Cahiers du Centre European de Geodynamique et de Seismologie. Vol. 15.
