This is a list of earthquakes in the Levant, including earthquakes that either had their epicenter in the Levant or caused significant damage in the region. As it is now, the list is focused on events which affected the territories of modern-day Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria and to some degree the adjacent areas of south Anatolia, Cyprus island and the Sinai Peninsula (modern Turkey, Cyprus and Egypt).
Seismic hazard
The Jordan Rift Valley is the result of tectonic movements within the Dead Sea Transform (DSF) fault system. The DSF forms the transform boundary between the African plate to the west and the Arabian plate to the east. The Golan Heights and all of Transjordan are part of the Arabian plate, while the Galilee, The Palestinian territories, coastal plain and Negev along with the Sinai Peninsula are on the African plate. This tectonic disposition leads to relatively high seismic activity in the region.
Earthquakes The region has experienced many earthquakes, the most destructive ones being those of 31 BCE, 363 CE, 749 CE, and 1033 CE. The 1759 events, along with the earlier 1202 Syria earthquake, are likely the strongest historical earthquakes in the region. Some of the earthquakes were also followed by a tsunami – notably in 92 BCE, 115, 306, 502, 551, 881, 1202.
Historic quakes in Bronze and Iron Ages c.1700 BCE – the Canaanite palace of Tel Kabri destroyed in a major seismic event c.1500/1400 BCE – the city of Jericho destroyed and abandoned upon a major seismic event c.1365 BCE – A supposed violent earthquake that is claimed to have hit Ugarit in the Bronze Era is based on misinterpreting the evidence, especially Amarna letter 151 which actually only says that half of the royal palace was destroyed by fire. The layer of destruction of Ugarit supposed to represent archaeological evidence for the catastrophe is now redated to ca. 1250 BCE. c. 750 BCE – a major earthquake described in the book of Amos, affecting ancient Kingdom of Israel and Kingdom of Judah Suggested epicenter location is north of Israel. Estimation of the local magnitude range from 7.8 to 8.2, making it possibly the largest earthquake along the Dead Sea Transform.
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