Lisbon, Portugal Earthquake and Tsunami of 1755

on the morning of November the 1st 1755 All Saints Day lisban Portugal was struck by a catastrophic earthquake that seismologists originally identified as a magnitude 8.5 to 9.0 the effects of the earthquake devastated the city and caused widespread destruction and fires survivors fled to open areas along the coast where the water receded for safety from the fires however their safety was shortlived as a massive tsunami struck the coast within hours killing thousands of people the tsunami triggered by the earthquake inundated the areas where people had sought Refuge resulting in significant loss of life the disaster profoundly impacted Lisbon in Europe leading to advancements in earthquake and tsunami research