Catalonia earthquake of 1428
1428 Catalonia earthquake (Wikipedia)
The earthquake of 2 February 1428, known in Catalan as the terratrèmol de la candelera because it took place during the Candlemas, struck the region of Catalonia, especially Roussillon, with an epicentre near Camprodon. The quake was one of a series of related seismic events that shook Catalonia in a single year.
Modern estimates of the intensity are eight (damaging) or nine (destructive) on the Medvedev-Sponheuer-Karnik scale.[2] The ramparts of Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste were destroyed. The clocktower of Arles-sur-Tech collapsed. The monastery of Fontclara at Banyuls-dels-Aspres was devastated. The damage sustained by the monastery of Saint-Martin-du-Canigou marked the commencement of its decline. The belltower and cimborio of Sant Joan de les Abadesses fell down. The chapel at Núria was destroyed. The villages of Tortellà and Queralbs were entirely destroyed. Among the damaged structures were Santa Maria de Ripoll and Sant Llorenç prop Bagà. As far away as Perpignan and Barcelona the populace was gripped by panic.
More on Earthquakes in Spain
CataloniaThe worst earthquakes in the Pyrenees in the historical record were in the Olot region in 1427 and 1428 with intensities of greater than X*. (An X-intensity earthquake means most buildings are damaged or destroyed. Roads and brides get buckled and broken. Cracks open up in the ground. Rivers are thrown from their course). This assumes historical descriptions are reliable. It seems they were. Olot was totally destroyed, with extensive damage across Gerona. In excess of 800 people were killed.
The Iberianature guide to Spain
