March 14, 1743 Earthquake: Turkey

1743 March 8-20, Antalya. A report from Cyprus, dated 4 April 1743 and reviewed by Ambraseys and Finkel (1995), says that “. . . I have been informed from Satalia (Antalya) that from the 8th to 20th of the month there were terrible earthquakes as a result of which the port dried up for some time, many houses collapsed as well as part of the walls at different places which fell on the consul’s house, destroying it. Many villages were lost in this earthquake and a mountain opposite that, which lies west of the islet of Rachat (Re at), sunk completely”. This report is rather convincing as for the strong destructive earthquakes that shook the area of Antalya to the east of Rhodes. However, the piece of information that “the port dried up for some time” does not imply beyond doubt that there was a tsunami. (reference #2840)

1743 Mar 08, Antalya. According to a report from Cyprus dated 4 April 1743 an earthquake off the coast of Antalya caused extensive damage. The shock triggered landslides and rock falls from the mountain which is located opposite the islet of Resat, 15 km southwest of Antalya (Beaufort 1818, map), which fell into the sea; see Figure 3.32. As a result of the earthquake the port of Antalya dried up for some time. This was probably due to the sea wave created by the collapse of the face of the mountain into the sea or the result of a submarine slide (PDGA 1756, Beilage 2). (reference #9116)