EARTH EARTH
Richter scale is a logarithmic scale of energy disbursed in a quake.
Scale Description
1
2 Smallest that can be felt
3
4
4.5 Causes slight damage
5
5.5 March
31, 1983 in southern Colombia 250 killed
6 December
18, 1982 in North Yemen 2,800 were killed
7.1 October 30, 1983
in easter Turkey 1,300 were killed
8.1 September 19, 21, 1985 in
Mexico City 4,200+ killed
8.2 July 28, 1976 in Tangshan China
242,000 killed
8.3 September 1, 1923 in Yokohama Japan 200,000
killed
8.6 August 16, 1920 in Valparaiso Chile 20,000 killed
8.7 August 15, 1950 in Assam India 1,530 killed
8.9 March 2, 1933 in Japan 2,990 killed
Some purely historical earthquakes from before the Richter
scale are...
526 ad. in Antioch Syria
250,000 killed
856 in Corinth Greece 45,000 killed
1057 in chihli China 25,000 killed
1268
in Cillicia Asia Minor 60,000 killed
It doesn't take dense population for earth quakes to be lethal. Of course architectural stability of buildings is a major factor, but being in an earth quake in the middle of the woods or even in a desert can still be fatal. An earth quake can kill people underground indirectly just as well as it cour cause a cave in, or swallow them up in a fissure. By indrectly we refer to blocking off air supply, blocking off escape route, damaging light sources, etcetera.