August 1, 1870 Tsunami: Ionian Sea, Greece

1870, August 1 (5), 02h40m (according to other data, about 01h). Ionian Sea, Gulf of Corinth. 38.5 N, 22.5 E, earthquake intensity X, magnitude 7, tsunami intensity 4, validity 2. A strong earthquake occurred in Central Greece, preceded by shocks that started in the middle of July. It embraced the isthmus of Corinth and the shore of the Gulf of Corinth. Two vertical and several wavy horizontal movements followed the thunderous boom which lasted several tens of seconds. These movements were not sharp shocks, but a slow rising and subsiding. The earth rose upwards like a carpet blown by a storm. Shocks of extreme force seemed to follow the line from Galaxidi on the shore of the Gulf of Corinth toward Amfssa, Antikyma, Arahova, Delfi, Distomo, Doubia, Chrysos. Almost all the houses tumbled down in most of these settlements, as well as in the villages of Itea, Cassotis, Kastris, Pirnaki and others. Thus, port Itea was destroyed completely; not one house stood fast in Chrysos near the foot of Mt Pamassus, and 11 people were killed; there was serious destruction in Delfi; the badly constructed houses in Thermopyles crumbled down already at the first shock, and so on. The ground cracked in the vicinity of Thermopyles, and vapour came out of fissures up to 1.5 - 2 m in width. The shocks were strong in Athens, Lamia, Piraeus, Chalkida, not so strong in Corinth, Patras, Aiyion. The oscillations of the ground lasted for several hours; the earthquake was accompanied by numerous aftershocks, at least 400, lasting till August 17. Strong shocks were noted at 8h15m a.m. and at 13h40m, the sea advanced deep onto the dry land in Chalkida for 2 m on August 1 or 5 [Perrey, 1875a,b; Fuchs, 1886; Levinson - Lessing,1924]. (reference #2130)