July 21, 1752 Tsunami: Latakia, Syria
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake began at Latakia, Syria on July 21, 1752. Its effects were recorded at 1 place. It killed 20,000 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 21, 1752
- Source
- Latakia, Syria
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 7
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Tsunami intensity (Soloviev-Imamura)
- 3
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Questionable tsunami
The toll
- Deaths
- 20,000 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.
Levantian Sea. The earthquake occurred on the shore of Syria. Harbour constructions suffered, possibly, from the attack of tsunami waves. Especially extensive damage was done in Latakia (Ladikija). Reports on the earthquake also arrived from Tripolis (Tarabulus esh Sham). Number of victims was estimated at approximately 20,000 (reference #2130).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latakia | Syria | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1752The 1700sTsunamis of SyriaThis 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 446.