March 2, 1866 Earthquake: Smokthine, Velca, Vlore, Albania
An earthquake struck Smokthine, Velca, Vlore, Albania on March 2, 1866 at 15:30 UTC. It killed 60 people.
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
- March 2, 1866
- Time
- 15:30 UTC
- Place
- Smokthine, Velca, Vlore, Albania
- Intensity
- 10 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 40.300° N, 19.300° E
- Country
- Albania
The toll
- Deaths
- 60
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million)
- Houses destroyed
- 12
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.
1866, March 2, 15:30 UTC. 40.4 N, 19.5 E, intensity IX-X, magnitude 6.75. Disaster at Vlore, Kanino, Smothine, velca, and Dhermi, intensity VIII at Narta, karburnare, Tepelene, intensity VII at Gjirokaster, felt in Ipiros (Epiros) and very slightly in kerkira (Korfu); 12 houses collapsed, 20 victims; tsunami at Vlore on March 3. (reference #1099)
1866, March 2, Valona. A damaging earthquake occurred at 20 h in the region of Griva Mountaiin in Albania. Maximum damage, with loss of life, occurred in the region of Smokthine (Semetina, now Brtej). Velica and Dhremi. Strong aftershocks, which continued until 13 March, added to the damage in Avlona (Vlore) and in the plaiins of Pollina (Apollonia) to the north, where 60 people were killed. (reference #9116)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- October 12, 1851, Vlore (Valona),berat, Turkey, Albania
- October 17, 1851, Berat, Albania
- November 26, 1920, Tepelene, Dragoti, Peshtani, Maricaj, Albania
- April 15, 1979, Montenegro, Balkans NW
- February 5, 1786, Corfu (Kerkira), Greece
- January 28, 1931, Korce, Albania
- May 13, 1895, Margarition-Filiates (Thesprotia), Greece
- January 2, 1866, Narta, Vlore, Kanina, Albania
- November 26, 2019, Durres, Thumane, Tirana, Albania
- August 27, 1942, Peshkopia, Magellare, Albania
- November 21, 1930, Vlore, Himare, Kuc, Albania
- December 2, 1930, Vlore, Tepelene, Albania
- November 30, 1967, Albania
- March 18, 1962, Albania
- September 20, 1858, Corfu, Delvinon, Berati, Greece, Albania
More
Significant earthquakes of 1866The 1800sRecent 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 2104.