May 10, 1556 Earthquake: Rosanna, near Istanbul, Turkey
An earthquake struck Rosanna, near Istanbul, Turkey on May 10, 1556.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- May 10, 1556
- Place
- Rosanna, near Istanbul, Turkey
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 41.000° N, 29.000° E
- Country
- Turkey
The toll
- Deaths
- Many (about 101 to 1,000)
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
A destructive shock in the east part of the Sea of Marmara ruined many places including Aydincik (n.Erdek), and killed a large number of people. Damage extended to Bursa and Istanbul where many houses, mosques and parts of the city walls were ruined. The walls of Aya Sofya were cracked and the Fatih Mosque had to be repaired. The details of this event suggest that its epicentre must be sought offshore in the Sea of Marmara. (reference #14000)
The details of this event suggest that it was of relatively large magnitude, not so much on account of the exaggerated damage reported from Istanbul, but rather because of the large area over which it was felt. Its epicentre must be sought offshore in the Sea of Marmara (reference #9116)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- August 17, 1999, Istanbul, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Turkey
- May 25, 1719, Turkey
- September 10, 1509, Istanbul, Turkey
- May 22, 1766, Turkey
- August 9, 1912, Marmara Sea, Turkey
- February 28, 1855, Tayabas, Bursa, Turkey
- September 2, 1754, Izmit, Turkey
- July 10, 1894, Turkey
- April 29, 1855, Bursa, Turkey
- March 18, 1953, Yenice, Onon, Turkey
- October 11, 367, Iznik,nicaea, Turkey
- November 12, 1999, Bolu-Duzce-Kaynasli, Adapazari, Zonguldak, Turkey
- May 12, 1866, Goynuk, Turkey
- April 11, 1855, Bursa, Turkey
- June 20, 1943, Hendek, Adapazari, Turkey
More
Significant earthquakes of 1556The 1500sRecent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 735.