July 10, 1688 Tsunami: Izmir, Turkey
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake began at Izmir, Turkey on July 10, 1688 at 11:45 UTC. Its effects were recorded at 1 place. It killed 16,000 people, counting the earthquake or eruption that caused it.
Where the waves reached
The source (white) and every runup with a place, colored by the water height recorded there. A ring is a runup NCEI marks doubtful.
- Under 1 m
- 1 to 3 m
- 3 to 10 m
- 10 to 30 m
- 30 m and more
- Height not recorded
The tsunami
- Date
- July 10, 1688, 11:45 UTC
- Source
- Izmir, Turkey
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 7
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Tsunami intensity (Soloviev-Imamura)
- 2
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Questionable tsunami
- Source location
- 38.400° N, 26.900° E
The toll
- Deaths
- 16,000 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Damage
- Severe (about $5 to $25 million) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Houses destroyed
- Many (101 to 1,000) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
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.
On July 10, 1688 several strong underground shocks, which contributed to the outbreak of fire, occurred in Izmir at about midday. As a result the city was damaged very badly, material losses were very serious and 15,000 to 16,000 people were killed. A weak tsunami was noted in Izmir. (reference #2130).
Tsunami on July 10, 1688, in Smyrna, Asia Minor, with a Modified Sieberg Seismic Sea Wave intensity of ii (Light. Wave noticed by those living along the shore and familiar with the sea. On very flat shores generally noticed). (references #15 and #27)
Earthquake on July 10, 1688, 10:11:45 UTC, 28.4 N, 26.9 E, generated a tsunami at Smyrna (intensity ii). (reference #4139)
Every runup
Nearest the source first. Heights are above sea level at the time; a tide gauge reads half the wave’s full height.
| Where | Country | Km from source | Water height, m | Inland, m | Measured by | First wave, UTC | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Izmir (Smyrna) | Turkey | 20 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1688The 1600sTsunamis of TurkeyThe earthquakeThis day in weather historyAlerts in force
Sources
Tsunami events and runups 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 tsunami event 339.