On the morning of November 1st, 1755 at 9:40, the Great Lisbon earthquake hit Portugal, as well as other parts of the Iberian Peninsula and Northwest Africa with its epicenter offshore. Seismologists estimate the Lisbon earthquake had a magnitude of 8.5 to 9, making it the largest known earthquake to impact Europe and northern Africa.
Reports state that the earthquake lasted anywhere from three to six minutes and that it caused fissures 5 meters wide in the center of Lisbon. 40 minutes after the Lisbon earthquake, a 6-meter-high tsunami occurred in the harbor and downtown area, causing many to drown. The force of the tsunami knocked over candlelit homes and churches, leading to large fires that burned for hours all over the city and asphyxiated thousands.
The natural disaster resulted in the almost complete destruction of the city of Lisbon and nearby areas, even places in the Algarve and Madeira. Due to the tsunami, almost all coastal towns in the Algarve were damaged, except Faro which was protected by the banks of the Rio Formosa. In the Azores archipelago, almost all ports were destroyed by the tsunami as the sea reach 150 meters inland. The rest of Europe also felt the earthquake, such as Finland, as well as North Africa. It was later discovered in 2015 that there were reports of damage caused by gigantic waves off the coast of Brazil.
The earthquake did not just destroy the city of Lisbon, but also increased the political mentions at the time. The Lisbon earthquake was widely discussed by philosophers of the European Enlightenment and studied by major scientists, making a mark on future European society, as well as the development of seismology.
Lisbon Earthquake Damage & Death Toll
The Lisbon earthquake killed between 30,000 and 60,000 people, making it one of the deadliest earthquakes in history. The city of Lisbon’s population at the time was around 200,000. It has been reported that 70% of buildings in Lisbon were destroyed, including iconic buildings such as palaces and libraries of 16th-century Manueline architecture. This included the Royal Ribeira Palace which had over 70,00 books and artworks, the Palace of Henrique de Meneses, the Lisbon Cathedral, and much more. The royal family was able to escape without being harmed, with King Joseph I of Portugal actually having left the city after attending mass at sunrise to spend a holiday away.
The Aftermath of the Lisbon Earthquake: Politics & Rebuilding Lisbon
A study by Alvaro Pereira in 2009 found that the Lisbon earthquake had direct costs of between 32% and 48% of the Portuguese GDP. Prices and wages remained volatile for years after the tragedy. The earthquake also directly impacted Portuguese politics. Although the King favored him, the aristocracy disliked the Prime Minister Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal. However, after the Lisbon earthquake, the Marquis of Pombal had a competent response that consolidated his power and stature in Portuguese politics.
After the Lisbon earthquake, the Marquis of Pombal reconstructed Lisbon immediately with his Pombalina Architecture that remains today in the capital. The reconstruction was planned methodically, with techniques that were earthquake-proof and walls in between houses to stop the flames of fires. Streets were made wider and paved with the Portuguese calçada, and buildings were built at the same rights, even churches. A new area of Lisbon was born: the Baixa Pombalina. This is downtown Baixa, the historical center of Lisbon that was constructed after the earthquake. The Lisbon you see today was mostly constructed by the Marquis of Pombal.
Credit to Portugal.com for the text
NZ Survivor Limited
New Zealand’s Choice for Workplace
Civil Defence and First Aid Equipment.
