October 16, 1988 Earthquake: Kilini, Vartholomion, Ionian Sea, Greece

Date

October 16, 1988

Time

12:34:05 UTC

Place

Kilini, Vartholomion, Ionian Sea, Greece

Magnitude

5.8 (Ms)

Focal depth

25 km (16 mi)

Intensity

8 on the Modified Mercalli scale

Tsunami

None recorded

Epicenter

37.938° N, 20.932° E

Country

Greece

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.

• December 856, Korinthos,patrai (Patras), Greece45,000 deaths · 173 km
• July 7, 551, Schisma, Boetia, GreeceM7.1 · 5,000 deaths · 130 km
• June 426 BC, Euboea, GreeceM7.1 · 2,500 deaths · 188 km
• September 30, 1636, Cephalonia, GreeceM7.2 · 520 deaths · 58 km
• August 12, 1953, Lixouri-Argostoli (Kephallenia), GreeceM7.2 · 476 deaths · $100 million · 30,439 houses destroyed · 42 km
• December 29, 1820, Zakinthos (Zante), GreeceM6.9 · 388 deaths · 379 houses destroyed · 35 km
• August 27, 1886, Triphylie (Peleponese), Philiatra, GreeceM6.8 · 326 deaths · 6,000 houses destroyed · 115 km
• July 11, 1767, Kefalonia, GreeceM6.7 · 303 deaths · 2,642 houses destroyed · 55 km
• February 4, 1867, Cephalonia, GreeceM7.2 · 223 deaths · 3,200 houses destroyed · 55 km
• August 23, 1817, Aeghion, Achaia, GreeceM6.6 · 128 deaths · 120 km
• February 25, 1742, Zakynthos, GreeceM6.6 · 120 deaths · 27 km
• August 1, 1870, Itea Delphi (Phokis), GreeceM7 · 100 deaths · 151 km
• September 30, 1870, GreeceM7.5 · 100 deaths · 151 km
• May 13, 1895, Margarition-Filiates (Thesprotia), GreeceM6.3 · 80 deaths · 150 houses destroyed · 178 km
• March 23, 1783, Lefkada, GreeceM6.5 · 60 deaths · 85 km

Significant earthquakes of 1988The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1988Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history

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 5172.