February 2, 1703 Tsunami: Latium, Italy

1703, February 2, about 21h [local time]. Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy. After the first strong shock at 02h on January 14 which destroyed Norcia, one more destructive earthquake took place with its focus in the Apennines Chain near Aquila. It was felt in Rome, i.e. 100 km to the south-west. The sea near the estuary of the Tiber receded from the coast for several yards, but returned soon. (reference #2130)

1703, February 2, 11:05 UTC. Latium, 42o28' N 13o12' E, earthquake magnitude 6.7, intensity X. Tsunami reliability 0 (very improbable tsunami), intensity 2. Strong earthquake in central Italy, with epicenter about 100 km far from the sea. Wide area affected north of L' Aquila. About 10,000 victims. Small withdrawal of the sea at the mouth of Tiber, Latium, reported by Baglivi (ref 310545). Further references: Mallet (ref #10511), Mercalli (ref #10483), Baratta (ref #4123), Carrozzo (ref #10527), Tinti (refs #2067, #1392). Revision: Maramai (ref #3778). (reference #4139)

1703. From January 14 to February 8. L'Aquila. A series of earthquakes in the Aquila area in Italy produced seismic sea waves which flooded the coast over 100 miles from the Aquila area between January 14 and February 8, 1703. In small lakes and ponds, the water was visibly disturbed. The earthquake was felt in Rome and adjacent Umbria D. Tsunamis observed on the coast of Italy (487/69-32 Annex). Servico meteorologico Nacional. R. Saraiva de Carvalho, 2 - Lisboa 3, manoscritto. (reference #3470)

1703, February 2, 1703. Earthquake 42.27 N, 13.20 E, intensity 10.5. The information reported in... for this event is just a weak withdrawal of water at the mouth of the Tevere river near Rome, as referred to by several authors... The related earthquake occurred on February 2, 1703 at L' Aquila (Central Apennines) causing very strong damages and fatalities in all the region. The epicentral area was located inland about 100 km from the Tevere river mouth. Going back to coeval sources, the belief that the link between the earthquake and the tsunami is quite casual rises stronger. This conviction is supported by the fact that the information on the withdrawal is reported only by Baglivi [ref #10545]: "...at the time of the second shock they say that the latin sea it the mouth of the Tevere river near the harbour, wandered away from the shore just for a little; at the end of the earthquake the water immediately came back". All other coeval authors did not notice anything about the sea regression... Concluding, the distance from the earthquake epicentre and the limitation of the indirect testimony, leaves many doubts on the reliability of the sea effect. (reference #3778)

1703, February 2, 1703. Earthquake 42.434 N, 13.292 E, . Event reliability 0 (very improbable tsunami). A small withdrawal of the sea was observed at the mouth of Tiber close to the harbor (probably at Ostia Antica, Rome, Latium) reported by Baglivi (1842). The water of the Tiber River dropped and shortly after it rose again (Guidoboni et al., 2018). (reference #11164)