September 29, 1650 Tsunami: Thera Island (Santorini), Greece

"At the end of 1650 a submarine outbreak occurred in the Aegean Archipelagos. At a point about 4 miles to the northeast of the Island of Thera (Santorini) a volcanic eruption gave rise to a shoal, as a result of which huge waves broke upon the shores of many islands in the Aegean. "The eruption lasted 3 months and it was preceded and followed by severe earthquakes.

On September 14, prior to the eruption and appearance of the shoal, strong earthquakes shook the island of Thera which intermittently continued until the day of the paroxysm on the 29th of the same month at which the shoal emerged. From contemporary accounts we learn that during the period between 14th and 29th of September the sea around the island was much agitated. Big waves were rushing inland from time to time while great rock slices fell into the sea. On the 29th of September, when the shaol made its appearance, a huge wave devastated the island, in many places where the shores were flat invaded the coast for two miles. On the west coast of the island of Patmos the wave reached heights over 100 feet while on the east coast the sea rose to 90 feet. On the island of Ios the height of the wave was 60 feet and on the island of Sikinos the sea advanced over 300 yards inland. On the island of Kea sailing ships were carried into the interior and many vessels were cast on the shores of Crete." (above from Reference #27)

Different Reports of Tsunami Source Data

DateLocationLatitudeLongitudeReferenceSeptember 29, 1650Santorini (Thera) 14October 9, 1650Santorini (Thera) 15October 9, 1650Santorini (Thera)36.5N25.5E20September 29, 1650Santorini (Thera)36.5N25.5E27September 29, 1650Santorini (Thera)36.5N25.5E109September 29, 16506.5 km NE of NE

coast of Santorini 330September 29, 1650Santorini (Thera)36.4N25.4E3331650Santorini (Thera)36.4N25.4E416October 10, 1650South Aegean Sea36.5N25.5E2427A strong underground volcanic eruption occurred 4km north-east of Thira Island (volcano of Santorini), as a result of which the sand-bank of Kolumbos was originated. It was preceded and accompanied by strong underground shocks, which caused the collapse of over 200 houses (reference #2130).

The most probable source of the 1650 AD Kolumbo tsunami is a 250 m high water surface displacement generated by underwater explosion [...] Pyroclastic flows cannot be discarded. (reference #12780)

A major tsunami accompanied the September 29 paroxysmal eruption which severely impacted the eastern coast of Thera […] Karstens et al. (2023) proposed that this tsunami was associated with the failure of the NW flank of the newly built pumice cone. The wave hit Santorini and all the Aegean Island shores (reference #14508)

Fytikas attributes 50 deaths to a tsunami, and does not mention other fatalities (reference #9675) [Reference #1633 - Fytikas lists 50 deaths due to gases from the eruption?]