1908 Central Mediterranean Tsunami

This is an excerpt from a report published in The Daily Malta Chronicle on December 29, 1908, after an earthquake hit the Straits of Messina between Sicily and mainland Italy. The resulting tsunami killed 200,000 people with 7.5 quake on the Richter scale. Via Daniel Stout:

The seabed appeared to be casting violently off the superincumbent mass of water and driving it to the shore. The Grand Harbour is protected by the breakwater; the tidal wave rushed unchecked into the Marsamscetto harbour. In the creeks the agitation was great.

In Msida creek the waters dashed right over the confining barriers and rushed up to, and into, the houses and shops by the shores. From the early morning it continued until after 4 p.m. People trembled at first to witness that which was taking place. After rising over the land, the waters receded and left the seabed bare near the shore, fish was picked up wriggling in the sand seeking to get back to their own element.

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