February 6, 1783 Tsunami: Messina Straits, Italy

In 1783 Calabria (southern Italy) was shaken by the most violent and persistent seismic crisis occurred in the last two thousands years. Five very strong earthquakes occurred in a short interval of time (February-March), causing destructions and a lot of victims in a vast region embracing the whole southern Calabria and the Messina area, Sicily. Very likely the earthquake is not directly responsible for the tsunami (at the epicentre, waves observed about half an hour later than the ground shaking). Tsunami probably due to a huge earthquake-induced rockfall: a portion of the Monte Campalla (south-western side of the Scilla beach) collapsed into the sea. The front of the failing mass was about 450 m long and penetrated the sea at most by 100 m (Minasi, ref #4125). On the other hand, it was estimated to be more than 2 km long with detachment occurring at a distance ranging from 500 to 2 km onshore and penetreting the sea by a distance of 110 m (De Lorenzo, ref #4132).

At Scilla most of the people, frightened by the sequence of earthquakes, escaped to the open beach and were surprised by the unexpected waves that reached the roof of the buildings. Total number of tsunami victims exceeding 1500 (Galimi, ref #4126; Mercalli, ref #4134). Few seconds after the rockfall the sea inundated the district of Marina Grande, reaching the first ffloor of buildings, then it the cliffs of the Castle at Monasina. The water climbed the Livorno stream op to 200 m from the sea shore, then reached Chianalea and Marina dell'Oliveto, located on the other side of the promontory. Three big inundations were observed. At Marina Grande the Santo Spirito church was destroyed, the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, located at a distance of 90m from the shore was inundated as well as San Nicola church. A woman entangled in a mulberry tree at an height of 8.3 m near the Gornelle fountain. According to Sarconi (ref #4124) in Marina Grande (Scilla) inundation heights in the range of 6-9 m observed, while according to Minasi (ref #4125) wave height of 16 m. At Nicotera the sea withdrew then inundated the shore carrying some fishing boats. Also Bagnara affected by the inundation. Cannitello was affected by the waves. At Messina the sea was seen to rise and noisily overflow its coast. According to Minasi (ref #4125) sea level rose of about 2 m. Tsunami also quite relevant at the headlight. At Peloro, near Torre del Faro, flooding of a long stretch of fields, close to the Pantanello small lake. Small houses, people and animals carried seaward. At Torre del Faro coast flooded for about 600 paces. Some boats and 26 victims carried seaward. Run-up height about 6 m. At Punta del Pezzo and surrounding areas sea covering the beach for one and a half mile, leaving some sand on the ground. At Reggio Calabria the sea inundated the shore carrying silk equipment.

Revision: Graziani(ref #3954), Tinti (ref #2761)