January 11, 1693 Earthquake: Sicily, Calabria, Italy

1693 Jan 11, magnitude 7, Southeastern Sicily (close to Siracusa) (ref #9237)

1693 Jan 11, 37.07 N 15.33 E (ref #1392)

1693 Jan 09, 5pm. In Sicily the earth opened in many places. Catania was ruined by the first shock. Forty-nine town, numerous villages and 972 churches or convents were ruined in Calabria and Sicily, and 93,000 persons lost their lives. It does not seem certain that the shocks were simultaneous here and in the other parts of Europe mentioned. There was an eruption of Etna at thee same time. [Note: effects from Jan 09, 10 and 11 events combined] (ref #521)

A catastrophic earthquake caused fires and damage to 60 towns and villages; according to chronicles, 60,000 inhabitants were killed (from other data 93,000) (ref #2130).

1693, January 11, 13:30 UTC. 37 08 N, 15 01 E, earthquake magnitude 7.4, intensity 11. (ref #4139)

1693 Jan 11, magnitude 7.4 Mw. The disastrous earthquake of 1693 AD caused over 60,000 causalities and the total destruction of several villages and towns in south-eastern Sicily. Immediately after the earthquake, a tsunami struck the Ionian coasts of Sicily and the Messina Strait and was probably recorded even in the Aeolian Islands and Malta. (ref #13244)

Ref #10509:

The second tremor occurred on January 11 at 9 p.m. Italian time (approximately 1:30 p.m. GMT). The effects were catastrophic, partly because they overlapped with those of the previous tremor. The affected area was much larger: an entire territory of over 14,000 square kilometers, considering only the area of greatest damage, was devastated; overall, significant damage was found in an area stretching from southern Calabria to Palermo and the Maltese archipelago. Obviously, the total extent of the area affected is unknown because the sea limits the observable effects; however, it seems certain that the tremor was felt significantly in northern Calabria and on the Tunisian coast. All the major cities in southeastern Sicily were devastated. Catania was almost entirely destroyed, as were Acireale and all the small settlements scattered on the eastern side of the Etna. Extensive destruction occurred in all the towns of the Val di Noto: Vii.zini, Sortino, Scicli, Ragusa, Palazzolo Acreide, Modica, Melilli, Lentini, Ispica, Occb.iolà, Carlentini, Avola, Augusta, and Noto. Syracuse, Caltagirone, Vittoria, and Comiso suffered extensive damage. In total, there were 70 towns in which damage equal to or greater than IX on the MCS scale occurred. Messina and some towns on the north-eastern coast, including Parti and Naso, also suffered serious damage and collapses; partial damage and collapses occurred in Palermo, Agrigento, Reggio Calabria and, more seriously, in Malta. Overall, there were 70 centers that suffered damage equal to or greater than IX on the MCS scale. Messina and some towns on the north-eastern coast, including Parti and Naso, also suffered collapses and serious damage; partial damage and collapses occurred in Palermo, Agrigento, Reggio Calabria and, more seriously, in Malta; lighter damage occurred in some towns in southern Calabria.

The most severe damage occurred in the southeastern part of Sicily, affecting all the towns on the eastern slope of Mount Etna, the Plain of Catania, the Val di Noto, and the County of Modica (roughly the provinces of Catania, Syracuse, and Ragusa), including economically and culturally important centers such as Catania, Syracuse, Noto, and Caltagirone. Sources sometimes contradict each other on the total number of victims, which numbered many thousands. Official statistics, compiled in May 1693, report approximately 54,000 deaths, of which almost 12,000 were in Catania (63% of the total population residing there at the time); 5,045 (51%) in Ragusa; 1,840 (30%) in Augusta; 3,000 (25%) in Noto; 3,500 (23%) in Syracuse; and 3,400 (19%) in Modica.