About National Richter Scale Day
Charles Francis Richter is most famous as the creator of the Richter magnitude scale, was born on April 26th 1900.
| magnitude level | category | effects | earthquakes per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| less than 1.0 to 2.9 | micro | generally not felt by people, though recorded on local instruments | more than 100,000 |
| 3.0–3.9 | minor | felt by many people; no damage | 12,000–100,000 |
| 4.0–4.9 | light | felt by all; minor breakage of objects | 2,000–12,000 |
| 5.0–5.9 | moderate | some damage to weak structures | 200–2,000 |
| 6.0–6.9 | strong | moderate damage in populated areas | 20–200 |
| 7.0–7.9 | major | serious damage over large areas; loss of life | 3–20 |
| 8.0 and higher | great | severe destruction and loss of life over large areas | fewer than 3 |
- Did you know? In 1960, the strongest earthquake on record occurred in Chile. It had a magnitude of 9.5 (out of 10) on the Richter scale.
- Did you know? The most destructive earthquake ever occurred in 1755. It completely destroyed Lisbon, the capital of Portugal.
- Did you know? On 23 January 1556, the deadliest earthquake in history killed about 830 000 people in Shensi, China..
Similar Observances
Other Observances on April 26th 2021
Day of Remembrance of the Chernobyl tragedy
A day to remember those affected by the world's worst nuclear accident, that took place in 1986.
Read More
Read More
