A 4.7 magnitude earthquake is considered a moderate earthquake. It is strong enough to be felt by people and can cause minor to slight damage, especially to poorly constructed buildings. However, it is generally not classified as "big" compared to major or great earthquakes which have magnitudes above 7.0 and can cause serious damage and destruction over large areas. More specifically:
- Earthquakes between magnitudes 3.5 and 5.4 are often felt but rarely cause significant damage.
- A 4.7 magnitude quake can cause slight damage to poorly constructed buildings but generally does not cause major destruction.
- These earthquakes are common enough that they may happen several times a year in seismic regions.
- It is significantly less powerful than major earthquakes (7.0 and above) which have the capacity to seriously damage communities.
So, a 4.7 magnitude earthquake is noticeable but not "big" in the sense of causing widespread or serious destruction.