May 14, 1748 Earthquake: Vostiza (Egio, Aigio, Aeghion), Greece

1748, May 25. Aegio. A violent earthquake at 3 pm, on Tuesday 14 May 1748 (O.S.) preceded by a strong foreshock, caused extensive damage in the northern Peloponnese. The shock almost totally ruined the greater part of Vostiza (Egio). Many houses, churches and towers collapsed with little or no loss of life, due to the fact that the people, warned by the foreshock, had taken refuge in the open. The shock caused serious damage to settlements on either side of the Gulf of Corinth, destroying a number of small villages on the northern coast of the Gulf opposite Vostiza and to the east as far as near Corinth. At Corinth some parts of the mosque of Sultan Mehmet II were damaged. To the west of Vostiza, in Patra, the earthquake caused great panic and some minor damage. The shock was strongly felt in Zante and throughout the Peloponnese.

Following the earthquake the sea in the Gulf of Corinth near Vostiza receded a great distance from the shore and, on returning with great violence, flooded the town three times. The third wave was so large that it reached the upper part of the town, beyond the Platanos, flooding the hill slopes to the south that overlook the town, washing away houses, stores and the customs house, and stripping trees of their leaves. Destruction was instantaneous and all sailing ships, boats and two large coasting vessels in the port at the time of the earthquake were totally destroyed. A seaman was carried by the waves 500 m inland and deposited unharmed on the hillside above the town. The sea wave added to the earthquake damage all along the central part of the Gulf of Corinth, where many people and domestic animals were swept away and drowned, the wave leaving behind it a great quantity of shells and dead fish, which littered the streets of Vostiza and of other villages along the coast.

Aftershocks continued for many weeks, causing the survivors to flee their villages, some of them moving permanently to Patras and Zante.

(above from reference #9116)

1748, May 14. Earthquake at Aeghion (Vostitza). Intensity IX 1/2 or X. (reference #1093)

1748, May 14. 38.25 N, 22.25 E, earthquake intensity IX. Aeghion (Achaia); tsunamis. (reference #3719)

1748, May 14, 15h. 38.2 N, 22.2 E, magnitude 6.6, intensity IX (Aeghio). In a letter, sent by the Venetian Chancellor General three days after the earthquake, it is

written that on 14 May 1748 a very strong earthquake shook Aeghio and caused much damage in the city. At the beginning, the shocks were medium and the terrified inhabitants took to safe places. This was redeeming for them, because a very strong shock followed which destroyed the largest part of the houses, of the churches and of the towers. When the strong shocks stopped, the sea withdrew and left its bottom empty and after that it exasperated and rose so that the opposite mountains of Sterea Hellada were not visible. Then, the sea rushed with great speed two times over the city of Aeghio and in the third time got over the plane tree and reached up to the top of the mountain which dominates the city. In the coast, the sea wave (tsunami) took off houses, storehouses, the custom house and the huge plane tree, which was known for its wide

and thick shade and for its spring of drinkable water which was in its trunk. The exasperated waves reached up to the country where they caused considerable damage and many flocks and people were lost. The sailing ships which were in the harbour together with two Napolitanian feluccas were destroyed. When the sea settled down, much fish and shells were found in the city and in the villages. Since the shocks continued for sorne weeks, the feared inhabitants were forced to take to the interior of the country. In Patra, the shocks were felt but caused little damage. Other parts of the gulf of Corinth also suffer damage by the sea waves. Some of the inhabitants were moved to Patra and Zante (Xinopoulos, 1912; Stavropoulos, 1954). (referene #4408)