# Shindo Seismic Scale Is an **earthquake classification system used to classify earthquakes based on their effects, instead of released energy** like the [[Richter Magnitude Scale]]. The [[Mercalli Intensity Scale]] is similar in that it also classifies earthquakes based on effects. It is developed and used by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). It assigns intensities **from 0 (not felt by most people) to 7 (most or all buildings suffer severe damage or collapse)**. **Intensity of 6 implies difficulty to keep standing. At 7 people are thrown in the air.** ## Effects - Intensity 0 (Mercalli I) - Imperceptible to most people - Indoor objects will not shake - Intensity 1 (Mercalli I-II) - Perceptible to some people on higher floors - Indoor objects may sway or rattle - Intensity 2 (Mercalli II-IV) - Perceptible to most people indoors - Awakens light sleepers - Hanging objects sway - Residential buildings shake but are not damaged - Intensity 3 (Mercalli III-IV) - Perceptible to everyone indoors - Frightens some people - Perceptible outdoors. Powerlines sway. - Objects noticeably rattle and can fall - Residential buildings shake intensely. **Light damage possible to homes with low earthquake resistance.** - Intensity 4 (Mercalli V-VII) - **Frightens most people** - **Awakens most sleepers** - Hanging objects swing; dishes rattle - Walls may crack - **Electricity may be interrupted** - Intensity 5 Lower (Mercalli V-VIII) - **Some people find it difficult to move** - Most unsecured objects topple - Furniture moves - Windows may break - **Unreinforced walls can topple** - Some road damage - **Wall and column damage to low earthquake resistant buildings** - **Automatic valves cut residential gas** - **Some water supply interruptions** - Intensity 5 Upper (Mercalli VI-IX) - **Many people find it difficult to move** - Most books on a bookshelf fall - Occasionally a TV set on a rack will fall - Some heavy furniture toppled - Some door frames are deformed - **Less earthquake resistant homes suffer heavy damage to walls and pillars, and can lean** - **Gas pipes and water mains are damaged** - Cracks may appear in soft ground - Intensity 6 Lower (Mercalli VIII-X) - **Difficulty to keep standing** - A lot of unanchored furniture will move or fall - Impossible to open doors in many cases - **Less earthquake-resistant houses collapse or are severely damaged** - **Apartment buildings can collapse by floors falling down onto each other** - **Small to medium cracks appear in the ground, and larger landslides take place** - Intensity 6 Upper (Mercalli IX-X) - **Impossible to stand** - Most unanchored furniture will move or fall - Trees can fall down due to violent shaking - Bridges and roads suffer moderate to severe damage - **In some cases, highly earthquake-resistant residences are heavily damaged** - **Multi-story apartment buildings will fall down partially or completely** - Intensity 7 (Mercalli X-XII) - **People are thrown in the air** - **Most or all residences collapse or receive severe damage, no matter how earthquake-resistant they are** - **The ground is considerably distorted by large cracks and fissures which can change topographic features**