1st November 1755 - Lisbon earthquake

My friends, at 1st November 1755, started at 9am the Lisbon Earthquake:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1755_Lisbon_earthquake

http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/lisbon-earthquake-1755-granger.jpg

http://nisee.berkeley.edu/lisbon/

Terrible destruction, Pedro, and recent earthquakes and storms give us a better idea of just what the destruction must have looked like.

The destruction was greatest in Algarve, southern Portugal, where the tsunami dismantled some coastal fortresses and, in the lower levels, razed houses. In some places the waves crested at more than 30 m.

That is a staggering figure, many times worse even than the Boxing Day tsunami, or the waves that hit Japan.

Wow. That is a most terrible story, Pedro. Thank you for sharing that with us.

Yes bb1, here it is more information about it:

http://www.drgeorgepc.com/Tsunami1755Lisbon.html

It was at the time of which I am now speaking, that the fine new quay, built entirely of rough marble, at an immense expense, was entirely swallowed up, with all the people on it, who had fled thither for safety, and had reason to think themselves out of danger in such a place: at the same time, a great number of boats and small vessels, anchored near it (all likewise full of people, who had retired thither for the same purpose), were all swallowed up, as in a whirlpool, and nevermore appeared.

Poor souls; they couldn't have known they had fled to the worst possible place.

you´re right bb1.

people terrified, fled to the sea, which it was much worse: they were hit hard by the Tsunami.

They simply wouldn't have known, at that time, what was going to happen, would they? Nowadays, just about everyone - except surfers - has the sense to run for high ground, but they just couldn't have known what was coming.

Thankfully, the loss of life along the East coast of the US was low, but look at the damage much smaller waves have caused there, in a modern society, where everyone knew Sandy was coming.

Those poor souls must have thought it was the end of the world.