1743 Salento earthquake

1743 Salento earthquake
Local date20 February 1743 (1743-02-20)
Local time23:30 IST
Magnitude7.1 Mw
Epicenter39°50′49″N 18°46′26″E / 39.847°N 18.774°E / 39.847; 18.774
Areas affectedItaly, Greece, Malta and Albania
Max. intensityMMI IX (Violent)
Tsunami11 m (36 ft)
Casualties180–300 dead

The 1743 Salento earthquake affected the Apulian region of southwestern Italy on 20 February at 23:30 IST. The ~7.1 Mw earthquake had an epicenter in the Adriatic and Ionian seas, off the coast of modern-day Lecce and Brindisi provinces in Salento. It had a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), causing heavy damage in Nardò. Damage was also reported across the sea, in the Balkans. The earthquake also generated a tsunami of up to 11 meters in run-up. Between 180 and 300 people were killed in the disaster.