New Delhi: On January 11, 1693, a devastating earthquake rocked parts of southern Italy near Sicily, causing immense devastation. The earthquake affected 5,600 square kilometres of area and killed more than 50,000 people. It is one of the deadliest earthquakes in history which wreaked havoc in Italy. The extent and degree of the earthquake’s destruction resulted in the extensive rebuilding of the towns and cities of southeastern Sicily.
Sicily earthquake: The foreshock with a warning
Sicily is located on part of the complex convergent boundary where the African plate is subducting beneath the Eurasian plate. This subduction zone results in the formation of the stratovolcano Mount Etna and leads to considerable seismic activity. On January 9, two days before the main earthquake, a foreshock of 6.2 magnitude rocked Italy. That earthquake caused considerable damage in the country and it was probably caused by Avola fault’s movement. That was the warning of what was going to come within two days.
The main earthquake which ravaged Italy
On January 11, the main earthquake hit Italy. It lasted for four minutes and its estimated magnitude was 7.4. According to historical documents, dozens of aftershocks took place with some of them as late as August 1964 and they continued until at least 1696. The earthquake triggered massive tsunami and it affected most of the Ionian Sea coast of Sicily.
While the foreshock caused widespread damage, particularly in Augusta and led to the death of hundreds of people, it was the main earthquake which caused the most destruction. It damaged most of southeastern Sicily, an area of about 14,000 square kilometres and a minimum of 70 cities, towns and villages were destroyed. The earthquake killed more than 50,000 people and led to severe damage in Italy. It is the most powerful earthquake in the recorded history of Italy. There was one silver lining to all these, if we can call it that. The damage the earthquake caused prompted an architectural revival in Sicily and Malta, a style that has become known as Sicilian Baroque and many of the towns which were rebuilt became UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The 1693 Sicily earthquake, a magnitude 7.4 event, remains one of Italy’s deadliest. Preceded by a significant foreshock, the main quake devastated southeastern Sicily, killing over 50,000 and destroying numerous towns. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
