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 (Heavily damaging–Destructive). 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.
See also List of earthquakes in the Levant List of earthquakes in Turkey
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