The effects of any earthquake depend on a number of videly varying factors. These factors are all of:
- Intrinsic to the earthquake - its magnitude, type, location, or depth;
- Geologic conditions where effects are felt - distance from the event, path of the seismic waves, types of soil, water saturation of soil; and
- Societal conditions reacting to the earthquake - quality of construction, preparedness of populace, or time of day (e.g.: rush hour).
One can count the number of deaths caused by large earthquakes to compare the results of all these disparate factors in combination. The Oct. 17, 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake occurred in the least-populated area of the generally urban San Francisco peninsula. Construction standards in the area are relatively high, and the populace relatively prepared. However, soft, highly-saturated soils near San Francisco Bay caused some spectacular failures of large highway structures unusually far away from the event. Even though it was rush hour, many fewer cars were on the roads due to the start of the opening game of the World Series, being played locally. Thus deaths were limited to about 75
On the other hand, the same year an earthquake of nearly identical energy struck the war-torn country of Armenia, between Russia and Turkey. It was located much closer to the major cities of the region, where poorly-engineered houses of unreinforced concrete collapsed on their occupants during the night. The number of fatalities passed 25,000.
There was an earthquake this evening across Japan and it felt very scary in Tokyo. As you can see from the screenshot, it was recorded at Magnitude 6.9
There was a rumbling noise and the sound of things shaking around the house. Wifey, I, and the daughters are fine.
Japan has its own scale for measuring earthquakes known as the "Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity scale"
Sun 2009/08/09 Tokyo was level 4 which is described as the following:
Many people are frightened. Some people try to escape from danger. Most sleeping people awake.
Hanging objects swing considerably and dishes in a cupboard rattle. Unstable ornaments fall occasionally.
Electric wires swing considerably. People walking on a street and some people driving automobiles notice the tremor.
A large number of houses in Japan are made of wood which is a good thing I think - wood absorbs the tremors and I'd rather have bits of wood falling on me instead of concrete ^^;
Tokyo is due to have a major earthquake but its been due for about 10 years now. If it did hit us then things will be quite bad indeed. The clip below from 1995 shows what happened during the major earthquake that hit Kobe. 6,433 dies in the quake and over 40,000 were injured.
From : seismo.unr.edu,dannychoo.com
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