What damage would a 9.0 cause?

Question

On Richter's famous scale, what damage would a 9.0 cause if the epi-center were 5 km below city center, and the duration of the main event were 1 minute?

Also, are there types of earthquakes that are quite powerful yet yield little surface damage?

Answer 1

i think it could drop everybodys tv sets and big screens and the houses would be all messed up

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Answer 2

Most building design are built to withstand shock of up to 8.0 magnitude. If an earthquake of 9.0 took place it will almost completely destroyed the city as it will Devastate the areas several thousand miles across even if the epic center is 5km underground. It will split up the ground and eat up the city.

Earthquake of 9.0 is almost equivalent of dropping between 70-80 gigaton of TNT onto the across the Area.

Compare the effects of 15 kilotons of TNT - (The Atomic bomb dropping on hiroshima)

It will also trigger tsunami and aftershock to the region. An aftershock is in the same region of the main shock but is always of smaller magnitude strength. If an aftershock is larger than the main shock, the aftershock is re designated as the main shock and the original main shock is re designated as a fore shock

If it struck an populated city.... it will be a day where many will die and many will lost their property.

No country in the world can dig up a city to save people within 3-7 days. Imagine millions of people lost their home, thousands are injured, you have to send in supply, and medication but access to those areas are difficult as roads are seriously damaged or cut off. water supply is cut off water waste leakage, body discompose, disease start to spread, survival start to lose faith in the government.

I can tell you one thing. China did a good job with their recent Earthquake.

Answer 3

9 would the most powerful earthquake ever....the building would fall of....the road would split....there would be so much destruction......everything will be destroyed

Answer 4

Mr hans k is correct but it will destroy the places up to about 1000k/m only.

Answer 5

Oh my god... imagine your home being played with by king kong!