1796 Latakia earthquake
The 1796 Latakia earthquake struck present-day east coast of Syria on 26 April. The earthquake had an estimated surface-wave magnitude of 6.8 and maximum EMS-92 intensity of VIII–IX (Heavily damaging–Destructive). Damage in Latakia was heavy and there was an estimated 1,500 people killed.
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| Local date | 26 April 1796 |
|---|---|
| Magnitude | Ms 6.8 |
| Depth | 20 km (12 mi) |
| Epicenter | 36.527°N 37.956°E |
| Max. intensity | IX (Destructive) |
| Casualties | 1,500 fatalities |
Impact
In Latakia, one-third of homes in the city were destroyed while the rest were damaged. Buildings, watchtowers and minarets collapsed. There were about 1,500 fatalities among the city's population of 5,000. A tobacco customs house in the port area collapsed, killing 400 people. Most houses were also destroyed in Jableh. The minaret of a mosque in the city collapsed. Many farmers living in villages outside the cities also died. The Margat and Al-Qadmus castles were totally destroyed. North of Latakia, in Bayırbucak and along the Nahr al-Kabir, many deaths occurred. Shaking was felt from Aleppo to Tripoli and Sidon.[1] The earthquake was followed by coseismic coastal uplift.[2]
References
- Sbeinati, Mohamed Reda; Darawcheh, Ryad; Mouty, Mikhail (2005). "The historical earthquakes of Syria: an analysis of large and moderate earthquakes from 1365 B.C. to 1900 A.D." (PDF). Annals of Geophysics. 48 (3): 374–375.
- Stiros, Stathis C. (2022). "Earthquakes, tsunamis, dried harbors and seismic coastal uplift: evidence from the Eastern Mediterranean". Mediterranean Geoscience Reviews. 4 (3): 319–328. doi:10.1007/s42990-022-00079-8. S2CID 250286320.