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1303 Crete earthquake

1303 Crete earthquake
1303 Crete earthquake is located in Greece
1303 Crete earthquake
Date 8 August 1303 (1303-08-08)
Magnitude ~8
Epicenter 35°00′N 27°00′E / 35.0°N 27.0°E / 35.0; 27.0Coordinates: 35°00′N 27°00′E / 35.0°N 27.0°E / 35.0; 27.0
Areas affected Greece, Rhodes, Egypt
Max. intensity IX (Violent)
Tsunami yes
Casualties many thousands, including about 4,000 in Crete

The 1303 Crete earthquake occurred at about dawn on 8 August. It had an estimated magnitude of about 8, a maximum intensity of IX (Violent) on the Mercalli intensity scale, and triggered a major tsunami that caused severe damage and loss of life on Crete and at Alexandria.

The Hellenic arc, the most likely location for this earthquake, is an arcuate tectonic feature related to the subduction of the African Plate beneath the Aegean Sea Plate. It is one of the most active seismic zones in western Eurasia and has a history of large earthquakes that also affect Egypt.

The earthquake and the tsunami are recorded as having a devastating impact on Heraklion, Crete. Detailed information is available from reports made by representatives from Heraklion (then Candia) to the controlling Venetian administration, written on the day of the earthquake and twenty days later. They describe the extent of damage to the main public buildings of Candia and castles over the whole island. The reports also mention that most of the victims were women and children, without giving numbers. There was also massive flooding at Alexandria. Many ships were destroyed, some of them carried up to 2 miles (3.2 km) inland. The port city of Acre, on the Levantine coast, was also affected; buildings were destroyed and people swept to their deaths.

In Egypt the earthquake caused severe damage in Cairo, dislodging much of the Great Pyramid's white limestone casing and toppling minarets on many mosques. In Alexandria the city walls were mostly destroyed and the lighthouse was badly damaged.


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