November 25, 1759 Earthquake: Damascus, Antioch, Baalbec, Syria, Lebanon-Syria

Reference #13870:

The main shock occurred on November 25, 1759, at 1923 LT. It was of long duration, about 50 s, and almost totally destroyed all villages in a narrow zone extending to the northeast for about 120 km along the Litani and the Bekaa valleys into the upper reaches of the Orontes river in northwest Syria.

The number of people killed in this earthquake is difficult to assess. Estimates made by various contemporary writers vary between 10,000 and 40,000. It is said that in the Bekaa valley alone 20,000 people were killed and as many in the Ghutah region of Damascus. Some of these figures refer only to losses of men excluding women and children, and others refer generally to more than one district. It is reasonable to assume that the total loss of life was very considerable.

Reference #9116:

The main shock occurred early on Sunday night on 25 November 1759. All occidental sources give the same date for the earthquake, which occurred at 19 h 23 m local time, and give in detail the dates of all foreshocks and aftershocks […] Much of the heavy damage and loss of life caused to the mountainous Jvletwali settlements in the southern part of the region was cumulative and includes the effects of the foreshock of 30 October, which was serious in this region. Villages in the northern part of al-Hulah were totally destroyed and the citadel of Shakif Arnun was shattered. The large villages of Marjuyun, Kaukaba and Zebdin and the caravanserai of Nabatiya collapsed. Hasbaiya was almost totally destroyed. together with its caravanserai, where many people were killed. The churches of Birteh were ruined and Kafr Hatta was totally destroyed with the loss of 55 Metwalis. The Greek village of Qeitule was ruined and three people were killed. Also Joun was destroyed, its churches were damaged, and part of the nearby monastery of the Sisters of l'vlary collapsed. Many small Christian villages, including Mukhtara, and the residence of the local ruler collapsed. with casualties. The large village of Dair Qamar. its churches, serais and many small settlements up the Fereida were. almost totally ruined, with heavy loss of life. Heavy damage extended to the district of Kesrawan, where many churches and houses belonging to the Christian community were also destroyed as far as Tannurin, Akura and Afka. The staging posts of Shaad and Labweh were shattered and Ras Baalbek was totally destroyed with loss of life. Baalbek and its castle were ruined and in part collapsed, with the loss of the whole population, except the sheikh and another person […] Sergaya. Zebedani, Hasaya and other smaller villages in the hills on either side of the Barada valley were either damaged beyond repair or destroyed, and 500 people and many animals were killed […] In Beit Jann the earthquake and the fire that followed totally destroyed the village, in which many people perished.