Map of effects observed (extracted from ITED-INGV)
During 1783 Southern Italy - and in particular Calabria and Sicily - experienced one of the most intense and persistent seismic crises of the last two thousand years.
On February 5, 1783, the first strong earthquake occurred. Other four very strong shocks followed: on February 6, February 7, March 1 and March 28. (Further information about the seismic events are reported in this article [in italian])
The seismic events of 5 and 6 February caused two destructive tsunamis, documented by numerous historical sources (Sarconi, 1784, Vivenzio, 1788).
The 5 February earthquake generated tsunami waves that hit the Sicilian coast between Messina and Torre Faro and the Calabrian coast between Scilla and Cenidio (RC). In some areas an initial withdrawal of the sea was observed and, subsequently, the coasts were flooded three times consecutively about every 10 to 15 minutes.
The numerous historical sources describe widespread flooding between Capo Vaticano (VV) to the north and Catona (RC) to the south. The Maritime Theater and the docks of the port of Messina were flooded and destroyed by the water impetus.
During the earthquake of 6 February, a large landslide was caused which, falling into the sea, generated a tsunami which hit the coasts around the Strait of Messina. Scilla's population, afraid of the continuous earthquake's shocks, took refuge on the beaches to look for repair from the collapses and, during the night, was caught by the tsunami waves which are estimated to have caused about 1500 victims.
The table below shows some parameters extracted from the catalog of Italian tsunamis (external link).
| Day of event | Province | Observed effect | Observation reliability | Intensity, Sieberg-Ambraseys scale |
| 5 February 1783 | ||||
| KR | Inundation | 100% | 3 | |
| ME | Withdrawal and inundation | 100% | 5 | |
| RC | Withdrawal and inundation | 100% | 5 | |
| VV | Withdrawal and inundation | 100% | 4 | |
| 6 February 1783 | ||||
| ME | Inundation | 100% | 6 | |
| RC | Inundation | 100% | 6 | |
| VV | Inundation | 100% | 6 |
Historical Sources:
Sarconi M., (1784). Istoria de' fenomeni del tremuoto avvenuto nelle Calabrie e nel Valdemone nell'anno 1783, posta in luce dalla Reale Accademia delle Scienze e delle Belle Lettere di Napoli. Ed. Giuseppe Campo, 197 pp., Napoli.
Vivenzio G., (1788). Historia dei tremuoti avvenuti nella provincia di Calabria ulteriore e nella città di Messina nell'anno 1783 e di quanto nelle Calabrie fu fatto per il suo risorgimento fino al 1787, preceduta da una Teoria, ed Istoria Generale de’ Tremuoti, con un Atlante di 21 Tavole. Stamperia Regale, 2 voll., Napoli.