Intensity Lab

Shaking videos

Seismic intensity is defined by what shaking does: people run outdoors, shelves empty, buildings crack. These clips show those effects as cameras recorded them, each with the effects our reviewer saw and the level they point to. Pick a level to see what it looks like.

Random clip at MMI VI How clips are chosen and rated

MMI VI, strong: 9 clips

The scale at VI · All levels

Effects that mark this level:

  • Many frightened; many run for shelter or outdoors
  • Walking unsteady; some difficulty standing
  • Goods, dishes or books fall from shelves
  • Windows break and fall
  • Heavy furniture moves
  • Plaster or ceiling tiles fall; slight damage
  • Water in containers or pools sloshes strongly
  • Animals alarmed; they run, hide or flee

M7.7 12 km WSW of Pitaloza Arriba, Panama

2026-10-09 · USGS PAGER alert orange · USGS

0:00 to 1:05 MMI VI
Students in classroom during earthquake
M7.7 Earthquake hits school in Chitré, Herrera, Panama - October 9, 2026
Via RandomArchive
0:42 to 0:50 MMI VI
Crowd exiting shopping mall
Fuerte terremoto sacude Panamá: sismo de magnitud 7,6 provoca evacuaciones
Via La Crónica del Quindío
0:25 to 0:47 MMI VI
Interior of shopping mall
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake shakes Panama, prompting evacuations
Via WSVN-TV

M7.5 20 km W of Catia La Mar, Venezuela

2026-06-24 · USGS PAGER alert red · USGS

0:00 to 1:17 MMI VI
Interior barber shop with customers during earthquake
Earthquake Shakes Venezuela Barber Shop as Men Rush Out
Via ViralSnare Rights Management (rights: ViralSnare)
0:00 to 0:28 MMI VI
Kitchens workers leaving because of shaking
Kitchen Staff Flee as Earthquake Shakes Building
Via ViralSnare Rights Management (rights: ViralSnare)

M5.6 11 km N of Redwood Valley, CA

2026-06-24 · USGS PAGER alert yellow · Event page and simulated animations · USGS

0:06 to 0:13 MMI VI
Store shelves during shaking
Video captures moment 5.6 quake strikes NorCal
Via ABC7
0:00 to 0:05 MMI VI
Store shelves during shaking
Video captures moment 5.6 quake strikes NorCal
Via ABC7

M7.1 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence

2019-07-06 · USGS PAGER alert yellow · Event page and simulated animations · USGS

0:51 to 1:25 MMI VI
Water shaking out of backyard above ground pool
Earthquake Shaking Seen in Ridgecrest Home's Surveillance Videos
Filmed by Donnie Morrison, via KTLA 5

M7.3 Nepal

2015-05-12 · USGS PAGER alert orange · USGS

0:03 to 1:12 MMI VI
Shaking in urban area with earth-based construction methods
'Scary' second Nepal earthquake caught on camera
Via USA TODAY

Every clip is embedded from YouTube and credited to the person or organization that published it. Intensity Lab does not own this footage. To ask for a clip to be removed, see copyright and removal requests.