Japan gets shaken up again after its most recent earthquake in Kumamoto. On April 14 and 15, Kumamoto experienced three earthquakes that exceeded 6.0 magnitude. The first at 6.2 with 10 km depth, the second and smallest at 6.0 with 5 km depth, and the last and strongest at 7.0 with 10 km depth. At least nine lives were lost in these terrifying earthquakes as well as several others who were injured. Kumamoto has also had other recent earthquakes, but none were as dangerous as these three.

Earthquakes become dangerous when they start to reach over 6.0 magnitude. The Richter scale lets us judge the magnitude of an earthquake. Magnitudes between 0 and 2 are not even felt by people. Magnitudes between 2 and 3 are sometimes felt but not often. These kinds of earthquakes are not dangerous. Magnitudes between 3 and 4 are easily felt. This is when they start to get dangerous. Normally, ceiling lights would start to swing at this stage. Between 4 and 5 is when walls may start to crack open. Between 5 and 6 is when furniture moves and falls over. When magnitudes hit 6 is when they are life threatening. At 6 and 7, earthquakes can get so powerful that some houses and buildings may collapse. A 7 or 8 is even more destructive. An 8 would be total destruction of buildings, bridges, and roads.

Japan has quite a lot of earthquakes. In fact, Japan has one of the world’s largest recorded earthquakes that was at 9.0 magnitude. The quake was on March 11, 2011, in Tohoku. The earthquake triggered a tsunami that killed approximately 29,000 people and damaged some nuclear reactors. All of Japan’s earthquakes are recorded but only the ones that exceed 6.0 magnitude are normally discussed on social media. Japan has earthquakes under 6.0 so often that they happen every week.