A 7.2 earthquake is very strong and can be dangerous, especially if it is shallow or close to populated areas. It can cause severe shaking, building damage, landslides, and injuries, and in some settings it can be deadly.

How serious it is

  • On a magnitude scale, 7.2 is in the “major” earthquake range.
  • The actual impact depends more on depth, distance from the epicenter, building quality, and local ground conditions than on the number alone.
  • A shallow 7.2 near cities can be much worse than the same quake offshore or far from towns.

What recent events show

In the recent northern Japan quake, a 7.2 event caused injuries but no tsunami warning and no major structural collapse reported in the available coverage. In Venezuela, a 7.2 quake was part of a much more damaging sequence, with widespread destruction and many casualties reported in later coverage.

What to do during one

  1. Drop, cover, and hold on.
  2. Stay away from windows, shelves, and anything that can fall.
  3. If outside, move to an open area away from buildings and power lines.
  4. If near the coast, listen for tsunami alerts after the shaking stops.

A 7.2 earthquake is the kind people should treat as a major emergency, not a “moderate” one.