177 Earthquake: Izmir, Aegean Islands, Turkey
An earthquake struck Izmir, Aegean Islands, Turkey in 177.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- 177
- Place
- Izmir, Aegean Islands, Turkey
- Intensity
- 7 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 38.600° N, 26.650° E
- Country
- Turkey
The toll
- Deaths
- Many (about 101 to 1,000)
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
176 or 177. A.D., 38.6 N, 26.65 E, intensity VII, at Izmir and Aegean Islands. (reference #1071)
176 or 177 A.D., December 9 and 17. Smyrna (Izmir) affected by an earthquake. (reference #521)
177 A.D. 38.4 N, 27.2 E, intensity IX. (reference #1149)
178-179 A.D. Smyrna. A locally destructive earthquake in Smyrna devastated the city, with a very high death toll. Among many other buildings, the temple of Tiberius, together with the Theatre and the Agora, were ruined. Fires broke out and many people perished. The ground opened up, causing additional damage, and landslides and slumping of the ground blocked the inner harbour. Neighbouring cities, including Ephesus 55 km to the south of Smyrna, suffered little or no damage. (reference #9116)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- July 10, 1668, Turkey
- July 10, 1688, Izmir, Turkey
- October 15, 1883, Ayvalik, Izmir, Cesme, Turkey
- April 3, 1881, Cesme, Khios, Turkey, Greece
- October 1491, Kos, Greece
- February 23, 1653, Izmir,alasehir,denizli,aydin, Turkey
- 688, Izmir, Turkey
- March 18, 1953, Yenice, Onon, Turkey
- March 7, 1867, Izmir, Mitilini, Turkey, Greece
- August 6, 1384, Lesbos, Greece
- March 31, 1928, Tepekoy, Torbali, Turkey
- October 30, 2020, Izmir, Samos, Turkey, Greece
- March 28, 1969, Alasehir, Sarigol, Kiraz, Turkey
- September 21, 1939, Turkey
- 1577, Balikesir, Turkey
More
Significant earthquakes of 177The 100sRecent earthquakes near here
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 69.