February 7, 1963 Tsunami: Corinth Gulf, Greece

Ionian Sea, Gulf of Corinth. A huge rockfall [38 deg 12 min N, 22 deg 12 min E] that came down from the southern coast of the strait without any earthquake caused three waves 3 - 6 m [tsunami intensity 4] high which devastated the southern shore of the gulf from Aiyion to Psathopyrgos and the northern shore from Monastiraki to Doubia. The blows of the first wave were preceded by a rumble. Fishing boats were smashed against coastal rocks along the segment of the southern shore from Selianitika to Lambiri, i.e. at a distance of 3 km on both sides of the estuary of the River Erineos; fish, barrels, pots and pans, and other objects were scattered about in the fields; small flimsily-constructed houses were destroyed; the same occurred on the segment of the northern shore from Marathias to Trizonia. Two people were drowned and 12 were injured. The waves were especially fierce on Cape Salmenikos near the western coast of the River Erineos. Here, the coastal strip over an area of 55,000 m2 was submerged between 5 and 44 m. The volume of the landslide was 57,000m3. Another landslide (26,000 m3) occurred within the river bed. The water flooded the dry land on its western bank over an area of approximately 500 m [...] The predominant period of the waves was 2 min. The landslide was possibly prepared by seven local earthquakes which had occurred five days before, as well as by heavy rains that accompanied them. (ref #2130)

On February 7, 1963 [21:28 UTC, 38 deg 12 min N, 22 deg 12 min E, tsunami intensity 4] three high waves ravaged the southern coasts of the Golf of Corinth from Aeghion to Psathopyrgos and the opposite costs of the central Greece from Monastiraki to Douvia. A subterranean rumble was heard the first 3 to 6 m high wave struck, but no shock was felt. From Selianitika to Labiri, each about 3 km distant from the mouth of the Erineos river, fishing boats were crashed on the rocks, fish were found strewn on fields, small houses of very poor construction were destroyed, and barrels, bedsteads and kitchen utensils littered the shoreline. The same occurred on the northern coast of the gulf from Marathia to Trizonia. Two people were drowned and 12 were injured. The waves were particularly severe on the Cape Salmenikos, on the western side of the river, where a coastal strip of about 55,000 square metres slumped 5 to 44 m under the sea. Slump mass: 57,000 cubic meters. Another slump took place in the bed of the river (26,000 cubic meters). On the western side of the river the water entered about 500 m inland. An area of about 150,000 square metres was destroyed. (ref #4139)

1963 02 07, Locally strong, destructive tsunami at both coasts of Corinth Gulf was generated by gravitative coastal and submarine sediment slump along the mouth of SaImenikos river. Two persons killed, 12 injured, destruction was reported in houses, cultivated land, fishing-boats and vessels. (ref #10357)

On February 7, 1963 at about 21 hours 30 minutes local time, a strip of the coast on the cone of the river Erineos slipped into the Gulf of Corinth setting up a seawave which flooded the coasts of the Gulf with a height varying from 10 to 20 feet. The wave drowned two and injured 12 persons causing considerable damage to fishing boats and to coastal installations [...] The author (Ambraseys, 1963) initially suggested that a minor local seismicity might have contributed. The only reason for this was the information of turbidity and the change in colour of the sea around the Erineos cone that preceded the slide. Galanopoulos el al. (1964) excludes this cause. The author, after studying the mareographic date and the local conditions that prevailed during the winter and the spring of 1963, has reached the conclusion that the submarine slide at Erineos was caused by the exceptionally heavy rains of that year, heaviest since 1900 [...] (ref #13256)