A look back at all the disastrous earthquakes Malta has experienced throughout its history

For the last few weeks, Malta and Gozo have been experiencing one small earthquake after another. Just yesterday, the Maltese islands were hit with an earthquake that measured up to 5.6 on the Richter scale.

Thankfully, none of the many earthquakes experienced over the last few weeks have caused any damage.

However, this was not always the case. In fact, Malta had its fair share of earthquakes that caused plenty of disaster and casualties.

According to information gathered by ‘Vassallo History’, the first disastrous earthquake recorded in Malta was in 1542. The earthquake, that had a magnitude of 7.0, originated in Eastern Sicily and caused one-floor dwellings to collapse.

It took another century before another calamity hit the country. In January of 1693, an earthquake with a 7.4 magnitude originated in Eastern Sicily causing the destruction of many Valletta houses, church domes and the Mdina Cathedral.

Around 50 years later, a 6.9 earthquake hit the islands after forming over the Ionian Sea. Together with many other churches, the Mdina Cathedral was again damaged.

This was followed by a cataclysmic earthquake in 1856 that measured a whopping 7.7 magnitude. It formed over the island of Crete in Greece causing many houses all over Malta and Gozo to crack.

Just 30 years later, in 1886 Malta suffered through another earthquake that originated over the Aegean Sea. Thankfully this was one of the weaker ones, only registering a 5.5 magnitude. Nonetheless, churches and many houses including the Mdina Cathedral were again damaged.

The next one occurred during the September of 1911. This was however largely felt throughout Gozo instead of Malta. In fact, the earthquake’s epicentre was only a few kilometres west of Gozo. It caused severe damage to Fort Chambray, church domes and houses.

This was followed by another earthquake exactly 12 years later in September 1923. This was however largely felt around the harbour area in Malta after originating in the East of Malta with a magnitude of 6.4.

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