Event 3. 6 April 1667, Dubrovnik
On 6 April 1667 at about 9 am, Dubrovnik was struck by a catastrophic earthquake (X MCS) and most of the town was completely demolished, either by the shaking or from great rocks that came tumbling down the nearby hill. Contemporary documents reported that about four thousand citizens, including Rector with his family and many noblemen, were killed under ruins (recent estimates give 1600 casualties, “Dubrovačka republika”, 2001). In several coeval documents there is an account on tsunami that was observed in the port of Dubrovnik, but also in Venice.
”And the sea withdrew, and it stayed for three days two braccia (fathoms) away from its usual level. The vessels swung so much that they dived with their bows under water, as if they would sink, and those near the bank got crashed.” (from a letter written by friar Vid Andrijašević on 16 April, Andriasci, 1667.)
“That same sails man told us that during the earthquake, on three separate occasions, the water had abruptly flown out of the harbour, leaving it completely dry, and the boat had, with great shaking and trembling, laid down on the bottom, which had at the same time showed openly. Each time the water had returned with such intensity and force, that he had been sure the boat would be completely overturned by this.” (Dutch consultant Jakob van Damm, who found himself in Dubrovnik at the time of the earthquake,Reusch, 1718.)
“… and the sea withdrew four times…” (Anonymous, 1667.)
“I noticed, and all the others whom I asked confirmed it, that in all the canals, which there are many in Venice, that stretch in a straight line from east to west, waves spilled (which were great then, and before it there weren’t any) in the same direction and back. However in the canals that stretch from north to south, the waves went across from one bank to the other, hence here also from east to west and from west to east.” (Francisco Travagini, a merchant and doctor in Venice, Travagini, 1669.) I = 5, R = 4.
