July 8, 1895 Tsunami: Caspian Sea, Turkmenistan

Reference #223 lists earthquake on July 8, 1895, 21:30 UTC, 39.5 N, 53.7 E, magnitude 8.2, intensity X, depth 60 km. The description is taken primarily from the study of I. K. Ivanovskiy [IIC-37]: "... The earthquake of June 27 [Julian date] was extremely powerful and hitherto unimaginable.

"During the night, about 2:30 a.m. June 26 to 27 [Julian date], when most of the population of Uzun-Ada was asleep, everyone was awakened by a powerful series of tremors and by the terrifying creaking and shaking of the wooden structures.

"Those who jumped to the street saw that an entire part of the island of Uzun-Ada was rapidly being covered by water... Random buildings were filled with water... Such a shaking took place that it was impossible to move about..."

"Huge waves gushed from the sea and flooded the buildings and docks; in the streets fissures formed up to 1.8 m in width from which water poured forth in springs. Many buildings were destroyed, and several were cast into the sea.

The following comes from a report to the chief of the Krasnovodsk district:...

"The Mikhailov station... There was a terrifying roar during the powerful shaking. The water in the harbor quickly swelled high and reached the railroad tracks... The passengers and service personnel on steamships, which had been 31.5 km from Krasnovodsk... saw a water column in the sea and another one of black smoke"..."

(above from reference #223)

Ground motions were so intense that people could not remain on their feet. Uzun-Ada Island experienced a partial inundation that lasted for two days. This induced some researchers to suggest that the earthquake might have been accompanied by tsunami. (reference #12412)

Krasnovodsk Bay. Flooding of north and west areas of Uzun-Ada as result of high rise water in the bay. Waves of large height caused flooding of buildings and dock. A few wooden houses were taken away to the sea. Pipeline was destroyed. (reference #14162)

According to the description of eyewitnesses, the earthquake was followed by flooding of the coast. Immediately after, the northern and western parts of the Uzun Ada Peninsula were quickly covered with water, which damaged buildings and produced a quag mire. From the sea, huge waves came and flooded buildings and docks; ground cracks up to 3 yards (2.1 m) wide appeared in the streets, and water spurted from the cracks. Many buildings were destroyed. Several houses were swept into the sea; pipelines burst. This description tells in favor of an epicenter under the bay rather than under the rear part of the Cheleken Peninsula. The water of the bay at rough seas rose high and reached the railway line (reference #14166)