November 24, 1772 Earthquake: Foca, Turkey
An earthquake struck Foca, Turkey on November 24, 1772 at 07:45 UTC. It caused a tsunami.
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
- November 24, 1772
- Time
- 07:45 UTC
- Place
- Foca, Turkey
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 38.800° N, 26.700° E
- Country
- Turkey
The toll
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million)
- Houses destroyed
- Few (about 1 to 50)
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.
24 November 1772. The gates of Foca Castle, which were on the edge of the sea, were completely destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami. Listed as probable tsunami. (reference #9275)
AD 1772 Nov 24 Foca. The strongest shock of the series felt in Chios occurred at 7.45. Apparently it caused no damage. It was stronger in Lesvos, where a few houses collapsed (ANF AE Bi/1013 Scio). A document dated 30 Rabi I a.H. 1191 (8 May 1777) says that 'of the ten gates of the cannon foundry of the castle of Foca-i Cedid which are on the edge of the sea, five were completely destroyed by an earthquake and sea wave and the mosque within the castle also needs repair' (BBA MMD 3162, 618). It is likely that this damage was due to the same earthquake. (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
- 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
- July 29, 1880, Turkey
More
Significant earthquakes of 1772The 1700sRecent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
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 10855.