Antioch Earthquake
The 526 Antioch earthquake hit Syria and Antioch in the Byzantine Empire in 526.The third worst earthquake disaster in the world happened in the year 526 and may have probably struck late in May between the 20th and 29th as there is no specific date on record.
This major earthquake hit Syria and Antioch with a death toll between 250,000 to 300,000.
The estimated magnitude for the earthquake is 7.0 on the surface wave magnitude scale. It was followed by 18 months of aftershocks.
The earthquake caused severe damage to many of the buildings in Antioch, including Constantine’s great octagonal church Domus Aurea built on an island in the Orontes River. Only houses built close to the mountain are said to have survived.
