7.5-magnitude earthquake that struck Antakya in south-central Turkey on December 13, 115
One of the deadliest ancient earthquakes, it devastated Roman Antioch and was personally witnessed by Emperor Trajan and future emperor Hadrian.
Key Facts
- Magnitude
- 7.5 Mw (surface-wave)
- Maximum intensity
- XI (Extreme) Mercalli scale
- Date
- 13 December 115 AD
- Notable survivors
- Emperor Trajan and Hadrian
- Notable fatality
- Consul Marcus Pedo Vergilianus
- Secondary disaster
- Tsunami damaged Caesarea Maritima harbour
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The earthquake resulted from seismic activity along fault systems in the region of ancient Antioch in what is now southern Turkey. The area lies within a geologically active zone prone to significant seismic events due to tectonic plate interactions in the eastern Mediterranean.
On 13 December 115 AD, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Antioch with a maximum intensity of XI (Extreme) on the Mercalli scale. The Roman emperor Trajan and his successor Hadrian were both present in the city at the time. The consul Marcus Pedo Vergilianus was killed, while Trajan and Hadrian escaped with minor injuries.
Antioch and surrounding areas suffered massive destruction and loss of life. The earthquake triggered a local tsunami that badly damaged the harbour at Caesarea Maritima. Following the disaster, Trajan and Hadrian initiated a reconstruction program to rebuild the city and restore it to its former status as a major Roman urban centre.