PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS)

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Intensity
Scale Shaking Description

I Scarcely Perceptible to people under favorable circumstances. Delicately balanced objects are disturbed
Perceptible slightly. Still Water in containers oscillates slowly.

II Slightly Felt Felt by few individuals at rest indoors. Hanging objects swing slightly. Still Water in containers
oscillates noticeably.

III Weak Felt by many people indoors especially in upper floors of buildings. Vibration is felt like one
passing of a light truck. Dizziness and nausea are experienced by some people. Hanging objects
swing moderately. Still water in containers oscillates moderately.

IV Moderately Felt generally by people indoors and by some people outdoors. Light sleepers are awakened.
Strong Vibration is felt like a passing of heavy truck. Hanging objectsswing considerably. Dinner, plates,
glasses, windows and doors rattle. Floors and walls of wood framed buildings creak. Standing
motor cars may rock slightly. Liquids in containers are slightly disturbed. Water in containers
oscillate strongly. Rumbling sound may sometimes be heard.

V Strong Generally felt by most people indoors and outdoors. Many sleeping people are awakened. Some
are frightened, some run outdoors. Strong shaking and rocking felt throughout building. Hanging
objects swing violently. Dining utensils clatter and clink; some are broken. Small, light and
unstable objects may fall or overturn. Liquids spill from filled open containers. Standing vehicles
rock noticeably. Shaking of leaves and twigs of trees are noticeable.

VI Very Strong Many people are frightened; many run outdoors. Some people lose their balance. motorists feel
like driving in flat tires. Heavy objects or furniture move or may be shifted. Small church bells
may ring. Wall plaster may crack. Very old or poorly built houses and man-made structures are
slightly damaged though well-built structures are not affected. Limited rockfalls and rolling
boulders occur in hilly to mountainous areas and escarpments. Trees are noticeably shaken.

VII Destructive Most people are frightened and run outdoors. People find it difficult to stand in upper floors.
Heavy objects and furniture overturn or topple. Big church bells may ring. Old or poorly-built
structures suffer considerable damage. Some well-built structures are slightly damaged. Some
Intensity
Scale Shaking Description

cracks may appear on dikes, fish ponds, road surface, or concrete hollow block walls. Limited
liquefaction, lateral spreading and landslides are observed. Trees are shaken strongly.
(Liquefaction is a process by which loose saturated sand lose strength during an earthquake and
behave like liquid).

VIII Very Destructive People are panicky. People find it difficult to stand
even outdoors. Many well-built buildings are
considerably damaged. Concrete dikes and
foundation of bridges are destroyed by ground
settling or toppling. Railway tracks are bent or
broken. Tombstones may be displaced, twisted or
overturned. Utility posts, towers and monuments
mat tilt or topple. Water and sewer pipes may be
bent, twisted or broken. Liquefaction and lateral
spreading cause man- made structure to sink, tilt or
topple. Numerous landslides and rockfalls occur in
mountainous and hilly areas. Boulders are thrown
out from their positions particularly near the
epicenter. Fissures and faults rapture may be
observed. Trees are violently shaken. Water splash
or stop over dikes or banks of rivers.

IX Devastating People are forcibly thrown to ground. Many cry and shake with fear. Most buildings are totally
damaged. bridges and elevated concrete structures are toppled or destroyed. Numerous utility
posts, towers and monument are tilted, toppled or broken. Water sewer pipes are bent, twisted
or broken. Landslides and liquefaction with lateral spreadings and sandboils are widespread. the
ground is distorted into undulations. Trees are shaken very violently with some toppled or broken.
Boulders are commonly thrown out. River water splashes violently on slops over dikes and
banks.

X Completely Practically all man-made structures are destroyed. Massive landslides and liquefaction, large
Devastating scale subsidence and uplifting of land forms and many ground fissures are observed. Changes
in river courses and destructive seiches in large lakes occur. Many trees are toppled, broken and
uprooted.