May 22, 1766 Earthquake: Turkey

1766 May 22, 40.8N 29.0E, magnitude 7.1. A destructive earthquake with an epicentre in the the Sea of Marmara. Damage to the east of Istanbul was more serious than to the west of the city’s outlying districts. Several towns and villages on the Gulf of Izmit, the names of which are not given, were destroyed, Izmit itself being hard-hit. (reference #2955)

A destructive earthquake in the east part of the Sea of Marmara. Heavy damage extended from Rodosto to Izmit and to the south coast of the Sea from Mudanya to Karamiirsel. Damage to buildings and tall structures was reported from as far as Gelibolu, Edirne, Izmit and Bursa. In Istanbul many houses and public buildings collapsed, killing 880 people. Part of the underground water supply system was destr?yed. Damage extended inland, mainly to the north and west, as far as Ed1rne and to Gehbolu. In Qitalca and surrounding villages all masonry houses were totally destroyed. The Ayvad dam on the upper Kagithane north of Istanbul, was damaged, and in the city, in the vicinity of Sultanahmet, the roof of an underground cistern caved in. It is said that about 4000 people lost their lives. The earthquake was associated with a seismic sea-wave which was particularly strong along the Bosphorus, and in the Gulf of Mudanya where it caused considerable damage. The shock was felt strongly at Aydin, Athos, Thessaloniki, Aytos in Bulgaria and along the west coast of the Black Sea. Damaging aftershocks continued for weeks, the sequence lasting for over a year. We have assumed that the epicentral region of this earthquake was offshore in the Sea of Marmara. (reference #14000)

1766 May 22, Sea of Marmara. […] That the earthquake happened after the mosques had emptied after the morning prayers, and on a holiday, was said to have reduced fatalities, but many died under the ruins of their houses, and the total was subsequently revised to 4000-5000. (reference #9116)