June 23, 1741 Earthquake: Greece

Earthquake on 12/23 June 1741. From Venetian sources, we learned that a strong earthquake caused important damage in western Cephalonia. Damage was also caused in houses in Amaxiki town, Lefkada Isl., but no details are available. Based on all the evidence, the earthquake had its maximum intensity on Cephalonia. This event is missing from the local earthquake archive of the Zampelios family, possibly because those people were interested mainly in destructive earthquakes occurring in Lefkada. (reference #14265)

AD 1741 Jun 23 Kefalonia. On 23 June 1741 (N.S.) an earthquake affected the Ionian Islands. In the western part of the island of Kefalonia all the houses, particularly those in the districts of Lixuri, Argostoli and Borgo (Castro near Ag. Georgios), were shattered. The parish church of Lixuri was totally destroyed, as were some public buildings. In the forts of Assos and of Kefalonia many dwellings collapsed and the rest were ruined, apparently without loss of life. Damage was also reported from the island of Zante. A few churches there, including the cathedral of San Marco, and a number of houses were severely shaken and damaged. In Lefkas also, particularly at Amaxiki, there was some damage to houses, but details are lacking. There is no evidence that the earthquake did any damage elsewhere. It was followed by aftershocks that continued intermittently for five months, causing great concern, additional damage in the western part of Kefalonia and delays to the repair and strengthening of buildings damaged by previous earthquakes. The date (N.S.) and the effects of the earthquake on Kefalonia are recorded in letters to the Vatican from the Catholic parish priest of Kefalonia and the bishop of Zante (ASVat 1743a, c.248, c.247, c.250, c.255–256, c.258). Even allowing for some exaggeration in the letters of the bishop, who seems determined to avoid visiting Rome, this seems to have been a severe event and entirely in keeping with the known seismicity of the Ionian islands. Chiotis, writing over a century later, mentions heavy damage to Amaxiki and Lefkas in an earthquake in 1741, presumably referring to this event. See also Albini et al. (1994, 19). (reference #9116)