Is a 7.1 Earthquake Strong

MagnitudeEarthquake EffectsEstimated Number Each Year7.0 to 7.9Major earthquake. Serious damage.10-158.0 or greaterGreat earthquake. Can totally destroy communities near the epicenter.One every year or two

How bad is a 7.0 earthquake?

Intensity 7: Very strong — Damage negligible in buildings of good design and construction; slight to moderate in well-built ordinary structures; considerable damage in poorly built or badly designed structures; some chimneys broken.

How common is a magnitude 7 earthquake?

On average, Magnitude 2 and smaller earthquakes occur several hundred times a day world wide. Major earthquakes, greater than magnitude 7, happen more than once per month. “Great earthquakes”, magnitude 8 and higher, occur about once a year.