August 10, 1838 Tsunami: Rijeka, Croatia

"A strong earthquake took place." Houses were damaged in Kostrena and Kraljevica. "The earthquake was strong in Rijekaand on the Island of Krk" (reference #2130)

On 10 August 1838, a strong earthquake (VII MCS) occurred at Rijeka and in nearby Bakar and Kraljevica. The trembling was also felt at Trieste. Local newspapers, which had started to appear only shortly before, made reports on the earthquake (Agramer Zeitung 1838; Ilirske narodne novine 1838; Gazzetta di Zara 1838), but they gave no information on sea effects. However, from other sources, we learn that in the port (of Rijeka), the vessels staggered (Allgemeine Zeitung 1838) and dashed against one another (Perrey 1850; Mallet and Mallet 1858; Kisˇpatic´ 1891–1895) (Fig. 16). This event was formerly listed as a false event (Tinti et al. 2004). However, an excerpt from the diary of Vicar I. Randic´ from Kraljevica (Kisˇpatic´ 1891–1895) provides new information: ‘On 10 August we reached Rijeka at twilight and the boat brought the five of us to the land … Just as we made several steps, we felt an underground roar, and then a stroke came which hit us as if we would fall down. The sails men said that due to earthquake the small boat jumped and the large vessel wiggled and swung as if it was being launched into the sea’. From this report, it is not clear whether the event was a tsunami or a seaquake, so we classify it as a ‘questionable tsunami’. (reference #9531)