Two strong earthquakes, the first one on January 9th and the second one on January 11th around 5pm, preceded the strongest and most catastrophic earthquake of the last 1000 years in Italy (Parametric Catalogue of Italian Earthquakes CPTI11).
The main quake occurred on January 11, 1693 at 13:30 GMT (about 21:00 according to the "Italian time" in force at that time), was felt in a wide area in which there were numerous victims (the official statistics, published in May 1693 reports about 54,000 deaths) and extensive damage to buildings.
In addition to the effects caused by the earthquake, were considerable the effects generated by the tsunami.
The tsunami, according to historical sources, reached the eastern and southern side of Sicily from Messina to Marina di Ragusa for about 300 km of coastline. Effects were observed up to Lipari and Malta.
The city of Augusta (SR), flourishing commercial port and crossroads of the products coming from the Middle-East, was one of the most struck places.
The city of Augusta (SR), flourishing commercial port and crossroads of the products coming from the Middle-East, was one of the most struck places.
The first effect observed there was the sea withdrawal which completely dried up the port, causing serious damage to the boats moored there, in particular to two large Maltese ships which violently hit the port bottom. The inundation that followed the sea retreat, submerged the neighborhood adjacent to the port, up to the church of S. Domenico, about 150m from the sea (Acquaviva, 1693; Boccone, 1697a, b, c; Mongitore, 1743; Anonymous, 1693d; Burgos, 1693; Muglielgini, 1695) were many victims caused by the tsunami, especially women and children who, terrified by the quakes felt in the previous days, found refuge by camping near the pier (Anonymous, 1693e). At Augusta were observed run-up of about 15m.
The city of Catania was surrounded by water up to the walls. Historical sources report that waves of considerable height were observed for about 15 consecutive minutes. The tsunami reached the city arriving at Piazza San Filippo and caused the breaking of anchorages whose boats were dragged on the pier of the port (Campis, 1980; Anonymous, 1693a, b). The farms near the city, were flooded by the sea in addition to being severely damaged by the earthquake (Boccone, 1697a).
According to Boccone (1697a), three retreats and floods were observed in Syracuse. The harbor remained dry for more than 50 paces (more than 70 meters) making the seabed visible; subsequent waves reached heights of more than 8 feet (run-up of about 2.5 m) above the usual level. The fishers, who usually cast their nets at a depth of 15 "rope steps," were stunned that for about 15 days the nets reached the bottom with only 5 rope steps.
Historical sources accurately describe effects also observed in Messina, Agnone, Mascali, Taormina (Giardini Naxos), Mazzarelli (today Marina di Ragusa), Lipari and Gozo (Malta).
Reference:
Acquaviva F., (1693). Relazione dell’Inquisitore di Malta F.Acquaviva al Segretario di Stato Cardinale Spada sui danni causati a Malta e in Sicilia dal terremoto dell' 11 gennaio 1693, Malta 18 Gennaio 1693. Archivio Segreto Vaticano, Segreteria di Stato, Inquisizione Malta, Vol. 44, cc. 11-16 (in Italian).
Anonimo, (1693a). Sincera ed esatta relazione dell'orribile terremoto seguito nell' Isola di Sicilia il dì 11 Gennaio, aggiuntovi l’orazione contro il terremoto. (manuscript), Roma (in Italian).
Anonimo, (1693c). Distinto ragguaglio del spaventevole terremoto accaduto li 9 e 11 del mese di Gennaio 1693. (manuscript), Roma (in Italian).
Anonimo, (1693b). Verissima e distinta relatione del terribile e spaventoso terremoto seguito in Siracusa, Augusta, Cattania, Messina et altre citta e luoghi della Calabria, principiato alli 6 di gennaro 1693 con il danno di molti milioni e morti di più di cento mila persone. (manuscript), Venezia-Bergamo (in Italian).
Anonimo, (1693d). Relazione dei luoghi che hanno sofferto in Sicilia dei terremoti (1693). Archivio General de Simancas, Secreteria de Estado, Negociación de Sicilia, Consultas y notas, legayo 3507-3511 (in Italian).
Anonimo, (1693e). La Gazzetta di Bologna, March 3, 1693, Bologna (in Italian).
Azzaro R., Cascone M., Camassi R., Amantia A., Gugliemino F., Mangiagli S. and Peruzza L. (2008). Terremoti e città fantasma in Sicilia. Un viaggio attraverso i luoghi della memoria. EDURISK-INGV, Catania, DVD-Rom realizzato da Prospero, Trieste; durata: 83 minuti.
Boccone P., (1697a). Osservazione prima all'Illustrissimo et Eccellentissimo Sig. Francesco Uldarico intorno il terremoto della Sicilia seguito l'anno 1693. Museo di Fisica e di esperienze variato, e decorato di oservazioni naturali, e ragionamenti secondo i principiy de' moderni, p. 4, 1-16, Venezia (in Italian).
Boccone P., (1697b). Osservazione seconda all'Illust.et Eccellent. Sig.Carbery Lord Vavgan gia` Vicere` di Iamaique intorno il terremoto della Sicilia, seguito l'anno 1693. Museo di Fisica e di esperienze variato, e decorato di oservazioni naturali, e ragionamenti secondo i principiy de' moderni, 17-20, Venezia (in Italian).
Burgos A., (1693). Distinta relazione avuta per lettera del P. Alessandro Burgos scritta ad un suo amico, che contiene le notizie fin’ora avute dè danni cagionati in Sicilia da terremoti a 9 e 11 gennaio 1693, con una elegia in fine. (manuscript), Palermo-Roma (in Italian).
Campis P., (1980). Disegno historico o siano l'abbozzate historie della nobile e fidelissima città di Lipari. (manuscript, 1694), Edited by G. Iacolino, 596 pp., Lipari (in Italian).
Catalogo degli Tsunami Euro-Mediterranei (EMTC)
Guidoboni E., Ferrari G., Mariotti D., Comastri A., Tarabusi G. and Valensise G. (2007). CFTI4Med, Catalogue of Strong Earthquakes in Italy (461 B.C.-1997) and Mediterranean Area (760 B.C.-1500). INGV-SGA. http://storing.ingv.it/cfti4med/
Guidoboni E., Ciuccarelli C. e Mariotti D. (2001). Catania alla fine del Seicento e i terremoti del gennaio 1693, in: Boschi E. e Guidoboni E., “Catania: terremoti e lave dal mondo antico alla fine del Novecento”, INGV-SGA, pp.105-166, Bologna.
Mongitore A., (1743). Istoria cronologica de' terremoti di Sicilia. Della Sicilia ricercata nelle cose più memorabili, Ed. F. Serio, 2, 345-445, Palermo (in Italian).
Muglielgini G., (1695). La Catania destrutta, con la narrativa di tutte le Città e Terre danneggiate dal tremuoto del 1693. (manuscript), Biblioteca Comunale di Palermo, Palermo (in Italian).