Tsunamis in 450

January 26, 450 Tsunami: Marmara Sea, Turkey

January 26, 450 · Very doubtful tsunami

A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake began at Marmara Sea, Turkey on January 26, 450.

Where the waves reached

The source of the tsunami. No runup with a place is recorded for it.

  • Under 1 m
  • 1 to 3 m
  • 3 to 10 m
  • 10 to 30 m
  • 30 m and more
  • Height not recorded

Tsunami warnings in force

The tsunami

Date
January 26, 450
Source
Marmara Sea, Turkey
Cause
Earthquake
Earthquake
Magnitude 7
Runups recorded
0
Waters
Ocean
How certain
Very doubtful tsunami
Source location
40.400° N, 28.400° E

The toll

The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this tsunami.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

450, January 26. 40o24'N, 28o24'E, magnitude 7. Earthquake in Costantinople. Sea withdrawal reported only by Lycosthenes (ref #10489) who is not a coeval source. (reference #4139)

450, January. Sea of Marmara, Constantinople (iii). Lycosthenes mentions an inundation of the sea but we find no mention of it in contemporary chronicles. (reference #15)

450, January. Sea of Marmara, Constantinople (iii).

Many Historians of the time mention an earthquake in

Constantinople which occurred in January 450. From their narrations it appears that the shock was not very severe and that no damage of any magnitude was caused. Except Lycosthenes none of the authorities consulted mentions a seismic seawave. Lycosthenes, most probably referring to the earthquake at Constantinople of 447, says that:

<<... the earth opened in many chasms, and many cities in

Asia were overthrown. The sea abandoned its shores and

fire appeared in the sky. The earthquake lasted for six

months ...>> (reference #23)

450, January. Sea of Marmara, Constantinople (iii). (reference #20)

More

Every tsunami in 450The 400sTsunamis of TurkeyThe earthquakeThis day in weather historyAlerts in force

Sources

Tsunami events and runups from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI tsunami event 4294.