December 16, 1631 Earthquake: Naples (Napoli), Italy

1631 A.D. Dec 6. Vesuvius eruption. A paroxysm of the volcano of Vesuvius, which was particularly damaging by discharging the lakes of water in its caldera, let loose an enormous amount of water on the village at the foot of the mountain, which was not less destructive than the lava flow.

As a result of the eruption of Vesusvius, a layer of dust fell over a wide area of the East Mediterranean. In the Gulf of Volos on the Aegean coast of Greece, the ashes fell from 10 pm to 2 am, to a thickness of about 5 cm.

A similar fall occurred in Acre ('Akko in Palestine) and on the island of Lesbos, probably to a depth of 2 cm. The same is also reported at two monasteries in the Bitola region in Macedonia.

A letter written by the captain of an English ship riding at anchor in the Gulf of Volos in Greece records this event in detail, dating it to the night of 6-7 December 1631. Also a marginal note from a moanstery in the Bitola region of Macedonia dates a fall of ash to the night of 7 December 1632. The rarity of such a phenomenon suggests that the year given is one too high, especially since a note from another monastery in the same region gives 7 December a.M.(Byz.)7140 (1631).

An ash fall is also reported without a location more specific than 'the whole world', in a codex from the island of Lesbos, which dates it to a.M.(Byz.)7140 (September 1631 to August 1632). This is probably the same event.

(above from reference #9116)

1631 A.D. December. Italy, Torre del Greco and Naples, preceding an eruption of Vesuvius. Intensity I which corresponds to an earthquake of intensity sufficient to crack walls, break chimneys, to shatter old buildings or to produce cracks in the ground. (reference #1055)

1631 A.D. December. Torre del Greco, 40 deg 48 min N, 14 deg 25 min E, intensity VII-VIII. (reference #1075)

1632 A.D. December 16. In and around Naples, and all the country near Mount Vesuvius. About twenty shocks on the day mentioned. Followed by the greatest eruption of Vesuvius since the year 79. Brusoni and Sansovino give the date 1630. (reference #521)

1631 A.D. December 16-23. Volcanic earthquake with Vesuvius, at the same time as a formidable eruption which made 4000 victims. Previously, this volcano was remained in rest for five centuries. More than 40 cities and villages were destroyed, partly by the lava and partly by the earthquakes. According to descriptions of the time, the jolts seem to have reached degrees VI or VII at Naples, but at least degrees IX or IX 1/2 at the foot and on the sides of Vesuvius, in particular at Boscotrecase, Portici, Torre del Greco, etc. These phenomena seismic-volcanic produced a strong current of the sea that devastated the coast. (reference #1093)