1796 Latakia earthquake

The 1796 Latakia earthquake struck present-day east coast of Syria on 26 April. The earthquake had an estimated surface-wave magnitude of 6.8 and maximum EMS-92 intensity of VIII–IX. Damage in Latakia was heavy and there was an estimated 1,500 people killed.

Impact

In Latakia, one-third of homes in the city were destroyed while the rest were damaged. Buildings, watchtowers and minarets collapsed. There were about 1,500 fatalities among the city's population of 5,000. A tobacco customs house in the port area collapsed, killing 400 people. Most houses were also destroyed in Jableh. The minaret of a mosque in the city collapsed. Many farmers living in villages outside the cities also died. The Margat and Al-Qadmus castles were totally destroyed. North of Latakia, in Bayırbucak and along the Nahr al-Kabir, many deaths occurred. Shaking was felt from Aleppo to Tripoli and Sidon. The earthquake was followed by coseismic coastal uplift.