March 23, 1748 Earthquake: Valence, Spain

Name: March 23, 1748 Earthquake: Valence, Spain
Start: 1748-03-23
Location: Valence, Spain

March 23, 1748 · Deaths: many

An earthquake struck Valence, Spain on March 23, 1748 at 06:15 UTC.

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: March 23, 1748
Time: 06:15 UTC
Place: Valence, Spain
Intensity: 9 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Tsunami: None recorded
Epicenter: 39.000° N, 0.650° W
Country: Spain

The toll

Deaths: Many (about 101 to 1,000)
Damage: Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
Houses destroyed: Many (101 to 1,000)

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.

1748, March 23 / April 2. Intensity X. The most violent earthquake that has a place in Valence. Destruction of many churches and houses. Many victims. The bedrock that bore the famous Chateau of Chevalliers of Montesa [Valenciana] was cleft, and the building was razed to the ground. (reference #1093)

1748, March 23, 06:15 UTC. 39 deg N, 0 deg 39 min W, Enguera. Intensity IX. (reference #1193)

1748, March 23, 06h45m a.m. In the kingdom of Valencia in Spain. Tremulous. Lasted two minutes.

1748, April 2, 09h30m p.m. In the kingdom of Valencia in Spain. Felt at Valencia, Alicant, Carthagena, Orihuela, San Philippe, Alzira. As violent as the last, but not so prolonged. Did some damage at the places particularized. (reference #521)

1749, March 25 [probably 1748, March 23]. Valencia, 5000 deaths. (reference #1051)

1748, March 23. 38 deaths. (reference #12773)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

Significant earthquakes of 1748 The 1700s Recent earthquakes near here This 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 1299.