3 April 1872 Earthquake
1872 April 3 Faulting at Baghras. Liquefaction, tsunami, aftershocks.
Sources of the Earthquake:
Parametric catalogues:
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): In Lebanon at 07.50 a.m. an earthquake caused destruction in Antioch and Swedieh, it was felt in Beirut and Tripoli (Fuchs, 1886). In April 28, an earthquake was felt in Sidon, Beirut and Antioch (Diaire des Pères Jésuites de Saida; Journaux Contemporains des Événments).
– Poirier and Taher (1980): 1872 April 2, Antioch was destroyed at 30%, 500-1.800 victims.
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 1872 April 2, 07.45 a.m., 36.2N, 36.2E, near Samandag, 7.3, destruction of Antioch. Felt in Palestine and Egypt. Strong aftershocks on April 10 and May 15 (Amiran; Ergin et al.; Karnik; Plassard and Kogoj; Sieberg).
Seismological compilations:
– Ambraseys (1989): 1872 April 3, a large eartquake occurred at 7:40 a.m., affecting the reaches of the Orontes where the river empties into the Mediterranean. The shock almost totally destroyed Antioch as well as its seaport of Suaidiya. At Antioch, the shock lasted 40s, killing 500 people and injuring an equal number. 1.960 houses of 3.003 were totally destroyed and 894 so damaged. There were a further 1331 other buildings, i.e. shops, mosques, churches, etc., of which there remained 349 shops, one mosque and one soap factory; thus, of the 4334 buildings of all kinds, only 500 were left standing. The Greek cathedral, completed before the earthquake, and the American Protestant church and premised collapsed, killing four members of the community. The East and North gates (of Bab Bulus) were thrown down and part of the citadel walls collapsed. The old Roman bridge of four arches was breached in several places and all manor houses, including that of the Scotsman Yate, were destroyed. By contrast with the lower part of the town, the upper part suffered less severely. Thirty-eight villages between Suaidiya and Beilan were totally destroyed. 2.150 houses were destroyed in Suaidya, and more than 300 people killed or seriously injured. The nearby villages of Kabusi, Jedida and Laushiya were razed to the ground with loss of life. The sea rose after the earthquake, allegedly to a great height, flooding the coast. Qaramut and its district were completely destroyed. In the town itself there were 170 dead and 187 wounded; in addition to shops and public buildings, 3.552 houses were razed to the ground. Heavy damage extended to east of Amik Glü. Qilliq was totally ruined with the loss of 300 lives, and neighboring villages suffered similarly. Here, it is said, the earthquake split the ground in places and yellow sand filled the area, a description suggesting widespread liquefaction. Also, between Batrakan and Quaralu, the valley to the east of hills is said to have dropped as a result of the earthquake and the ground was ‘rent’ all the way to Baghras, an allusion to faulting. Damage was very heavy and there was great loss of life to the north and south of Qilliq, particularly in the region of Harim and Armanaz, but details are lacking. In Aleppo, the shock lasted 72s and caused great panic. About 100 houses were badly damaged or collapsed, killing 7 and injuring 3 people. Part of the citadel fell down. Damage extended to Izaz, Basut, Zirbeh and Idleb as well as to settlements along the Mediterranean coast such as Arsuz and Iskenderun. Damage to the south of Afsiyeh became known many months after the earthquake, as did damage to
bridges and hans. The Orontes bridge at Jisr Al-Hadid was damaged and its defense towers were thrown down. The shock was very strongly felt at Adana, Aintab, Birecik, Hama, Homs and Tripoli. It was reported from Rhodes, Konya, Diyarbakır, Beirut and Damascus. The earthquake was not felt in Egypt as alleged by modern writers. Aftershocks continued to be felt with decreasing severity throughout April and May, but did not cease altogether until 1873 February (Consular Archives; Press Reports).
– Sieberg (1932): 1872, a destructive earthquake in Northern Syria, killing 1.800 persons. 2/3 of Antioch and Swedieh were ruined and rebuilt again using stones of the ramparts of the city. Iskandarun and Aleppo felt by this event, but without damage. It was felt in Urfa, Diyarbakir, many places in Mesopotamia, Damascus, Yafa, Egypt, Tripoli (of Libya), Rhodos and Smyrna. Aftershocks lasted till August, that were felt in Antioch, Aleppo and Smyrna.