September 2, 1754 Earthquake: Izmit, Turkey

Reference #9116:

AD 1754 Sep 2, Izmit. An earthquake of rather large magnitude in the Gulf of Izmit, preceded by a period of foreshocks, destroyed villages in this area and caused material damage in Izmit and Istanbul.

The earthquake occurred on 15 Dhu’l-Qa’da a.H. 1167 (2–3 September 1754), a Tuesday night, at 3 h 30 m of the Islamic clock (21h 30m) (Hakim, Vekayi’name , i. 79; cf. Vasif, Tarih , i. 36; Aktepe 1976, i. 176; Takvim no. 56; Tsonev 1923, ii. 312). The shock allegedly lasted for two, or according to others, ten minutes intermittently; the ground moved from east to west (BC Misc. PD 77c.95). More sober reports suggest that strong shaking did not last more than 30 seconds (Porter 1755, 11).

Both the British ambassador and Dr Mackenzie thought 50–60 a realistic figure for the number of dead in Istanbul. However, other estimates, such as those made by the Venetian agent, put the overall death toll in the region at about 800 (BC Misc. PD 77c. 95). Estimates of 50 000 fatalities reported by one European writer (Seyfart 1756, 132–135) are clearly grossly exaggerated.

A contemperary document that mentions the loss of life and property of Christians in Izmit as a result of an earthquake during the period 1750-54 must refer to this even (BBL MS 11221.7), but details are lacking. In fact, the region of Izmit seems to have suffered more than Istanbul.

As a result of the earthquake the sea receded permanently from the shore, for more than three ‘passi geometri’ (BC Misc PD 77c.95). It is not known where this happened and whether this was the result of a seismic sea wave or a permanent change of the coastline due to slumping.

This earthquake is often associated with the earthquake of late October 1754 in Egypt, thus erroneously extending its effects as far as Cairo.

Reference #3845:

October, 1754, Gulf of Suez. A locally destructive earthquake in Egypt affected Cairo, particularly the districts of Qarafa, Bulaq and part of new Cairo, where many houses were ruined with great loss of life. The shock was possibly felt in Alexandria, but there is no evidence that it caused damage elsewhere. This earthquake is sometimes associated erroneously with the destructive shock of 2 September that affected northwest Anatolia, too far away to have caused the damage reported in Caíro.

Reference #14000:

A great earthquake in the Gulf of Izmit and further to the east where villages were totally destroyed and the ground was opened. It is said that about 2000 people were killed. The lighthouse at Eregli on the Black Sea was destroyed. There was much damage done at Oskiidar and in the Balat, and in Istanbul many old masonry houses and buildings collapsed and 60 people were killed by the main shock and by damaging aftershocks that continued for weeks; some mosques and parts of the city walls were also damaged. The main shock was associated with a seismic sea-wave which caused no damage. The shock was also reported from lzmir and Ankara(?).