July 9, 1757 Earthquake: Sao Jorge, Azores

1757, July 9, 11:30 [local time]. San Jorge, intensity XI. (reference #1193)

1757, July 9. Azores. Sea was violently agigated and came in at St George Island [Sao Jorge], the Pic, and Graciosa. (reference #132)

1757, July 9. Azores. The earthquake was felt throughout the Azores. Waves came in violently from west to east on Ilha de Sao Jorge, east to west on Ilha de Pico and the southwest on Ilha Graciosa (39 deg 04 min N., 28 deg 00 min W.). Waves were noted on Ilha Terceira. (reference #41)

1757, July 9, 11:45 p.m. Throughout the Azores. A terrible shock lasting about 2 minutes was at first vertical, but soon changed to horizontal, in the direction W. to E. All the houses of Angra (Terceira) were violently shaken. In the island of St. George (12 leagues from Terceira) 1053 persons were destroyed beneath the ruins of their houses. The sea was in a state of great agitation, and came in violently on the land, in the direction W. to E. on the island of St. George, E. to W. on that of the Pic, and S.to W. on Graciosa. (reference #496)

1757, July 9. Throughout the Azores, Angra (Terceira), Island of St George; sea waves, intensity III which corresponds to an earthquake which destroyed towns and devastated districts. (reference #1055)

On July 9, 1757, a strong earthquake of MMI XI struck Sao Jorge Island killing 1.046 people, one quarter of the population at that time. Machado (1949) estimated a magnitude of 7.4 through an empirical relation based on the area of perceptibility. According to Machado (1949) the epicentre was on a fault located in the channel between Sao Jorge and Pico Islands; however, Madeira (1998) states that the epicentre was by the north shore; (reference #12490)

Great volcanic earthquake, with catastrophic effects in the island of S. Jorge, where the local Fayans of the Vismes was razed to the ground: "There are no longer houses, temples or streets." 1053 dead. - In the island of Pico: 11 dead. (reference #1093)