551 Beirut earthquake

551 Beirut earthquake
551 Beirut earthquake is located in Lebanon
551 Beirut earthquake
Local date9 July 551 (0551-07-09)
Magnitude7.5 Mw
Epicenter33°54′N 35°30′E / 33.9°N 35.5°E / 33.9; 35.5
Areas affectedPhoenice (Roman province), Byzantine Empire (now Lebanon)
Max. intensityMMI X (Extreme)
TsunamiYes
CasualtiesAbove 30,000
Main tectonic features of Lebanon

The 551 Beirut earthquake occurred on 9 July with an estimated magnitude of about 7.5 on the moment magnitude scale and a maximum felt intensity of X (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale. It triggered a devastating tsunami which affected the coastal towns of Byzantine Phoenicia, causing great destruction and sinking many ships. Overall large numbers of people were reported killed, with one estimate of 30,000 by the anonymous pilgrim of Piacenza for Berytus (modern Beirut) alone.[1]

  1. ^ Sbeinati, M.R.; Darawcheh R.; Mouty M (2005). "The historical earthquakes of Syria: an analysis of large and moderate earthquakes from 1365 B.C. to 1900 A.D." Annals of Geophysics. 48 (3): 347–435. doi:10.4401/ag-3206.

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