July 26, 1591 Tsunami: Azores, Portugal

1591, July 26. Azores, Ilha de Sao Miguel (37 deg 47'N., 25 deg 30'W.). Sea greatly agitated. All vessels within 20 leagues of the islands injured. (reference #41)

1591, July 26. Azores, St. Michael. Sea greatly agitated. (reference #132)

1591, July 26. Azores, St. Michel; sea waves. (reference #1055)

1591, July 26. Azores, especially St. Michel; and the sea for 20 leagues round. The sea was greatly agitated, and all vessels within 20 leagues of the islands were much injured. (reference #521)

1591, July 26. This tsunami is listed as an "erroneous entry" by ref #13057. [...] Hunt (1845) also mentions the numerous earthquakes at Vila Franca do Campo and adds that the sea flooded Vila da Povoacao valley, on the southern coast of S. Miguel Island. According to Silveira (2002), given the available documentation, it is not possible to relate the flood reference of Vila da Povoacao to the seismic crisis, a tsunami or even a storm since he is the only author to mention it and, moreover, does so about 250 years after it happened. This event is mentioned in several catalogues of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries related to the occurrence of earthquakes and/or tsunamis worldwide (e.g. Mallet and Mallet 1858; Milne 1899; Heck 1947; Berninghausen 1964; Andrade et al. 2006; Borges et al. 2008). The information contained in these documents mentions the sea’s disturbance and the damage to ships as was first written by Mandelslo ([1616–1644] 1719). However, the first and contemporary account of Linschoten [1596] 1997 only mentions the shaking of the boats and the sea’s disturbance as a result of the earthquakes, with no reference to ships sailing up to 20 leagues away from the shore nor to any type of flooding of the coastal zone. It is more likely that the sea’s agitation may be due to the ships’ movement on being hit by seismic P-waves. (reference #13057)