Mediterranean earthquake and tsunami of 365
Quick Summary
The Mediterranean earthquake and tsunami of 365 CE was a significant natural disaster that struck the eastern Mediterranean Sea on July 21, 365 CE. This event was caused by a fault slip in the subduction zone beneath the island of Crete, resulting in an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 8.0–8.5. The earthquake was powerful enough to uplift parts of western Crete by up to 10 meters (33 feet).1
The earthquake generated a massive tsunami that caused widespread devastation throughout the Mediterranean. It claimed tens of thousands of lives and inflicted damage from the Aegean Sea to the coast of modern-day Spain. In Alexandria, Egypt, tsunami waves were strong enough to carry ships over harbor walls and onto the roofs of houses, while also inundating nearby croplands with saltwater.1
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