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Rossi-Forel Scale 1873 (Short Version)

I. Microseismic shock. Recorded by a single seismograph or by seismographs of the same model, but not by several seismographs of different kinds: the shock felt by an experienced observer.

II. Extremely feeble shock. Recorded by several seismographs of different kinds; felt by a small number of persons at rest,

III. Very feeble shock. Felt by several persons at rest; strong enough for the direction or duration to be appreciable.

IV. Feeble shock. Felt by persons in motion, disturbance of movable objects, doors, windows, cracking of ceilings.

V. Shock of moderate intensity. Felt generally by everyone; disturbance of furniture, beds, etc., ringing of some bells.

VI. Fairly strong shock. General awakening of those asleep; general ringing of bells; oscillation of chandeliers; stopping of clocks; visible agitation of trees and shrubs; some startled persons leaving their dwellings.

VII. Strong shock. Overthrow of movable objects, fall of plaster; ringing of church bells. general panic , without damage to buildings.

VIII. Very strong shock. Fall of chimneys; cracks in the walls of buildings.

IX. Extremely strong shock. Partial or total destruction of some buildings,

X. Shock of extreme intensity. Great disaster; ruins; disturbance of the strata, fissures in the ground, rock falls from mountains.


From: Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions. A Handbook on Risk Assessment
by Herbert Tiedemann. Swiss Reinsurance Company, Zurich, 1992.

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