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What happened to people at Lisbon Bay after the 1755 Lisbon earthquake caused the water to recede?
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tsunami
Aftermath of the December 2004 tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia.
Following the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, the initial arrival of the tsunami at the bay of Lisbon manifested as the trough of the wave, causing the water to recede and expose the shallow seafloor.1
Attracted by this unusual sight, many curious people walked out onto the exposed bay floor. Tragically, only minutes later, the subsequent wave crest arrived, drowning a large number of those who had ventured out. This event serves as a stark reminder of the extreme dangers posed by water waves following seismic activity, where the withdrawal of water is often a precursor to a destructive, life-threatening surge.1