Destroyed or damaged by Earthquake

Connected Sites: 98

Definition
Where the earthquake significanly impacted the history of the site and the buildings are remaining today.

Map

Connected Sites

  • Val di Noto
    Inscribed: 2002
    3.35
    208
    11
    (Jan 9 1693, led to rebuilding in constant style)
  • Prambanan
    Prambanan
    Indonesia
    Inscribed: 1991
    3.80
    187
    9
    Java Earthquake 2006
  • Arequipa
    Inscribed: 2000
    3.34
    170
    10
    Arequipa Cathedral, damaged by earthquake on June 23 2001
  • Biblical Tells
    Inscribed: 2005
    3.03
    101
    10
    Many artifacts from Tell Hatzor were damaged/destroyed in an earthquake in 2008
  • Walled City of Baku
    Inscribed: 2000
    2.96
    137
    7
    November 2000
  • Angra do Heroismo
    Inscribed: 1983
    3.06
    68
    6
    1980
  • Naples
    Naples
    Italy
    Inscribed: 1995
    3.48
    437
    9
    Giotto's frescoes in Castelnouvo were destroyed in an earthquake
  • Mount Qingcheng and Dujiangyan
    Inscribed: 2000
    3.40
    76
    4
    The May 12th (2008) earthquake has dealt a blow to tourism in the city of Dujiangyan. The quake damaged some of the most famous historic sites, including the ancient waterworks of Dujiangyan. A month later, efforts to repair have paid off, as a handful of the historic sites have reopened."
  • Quito
    Quito
    Ecuador
    Inscribed: 1978
    3.34
    175
    8
    1917
  • Volubilis
    Volubilis
    Morocco
    Inscribed: 1997
    3.40
    211
    6
    In 1755, same as Lisbon
  • Incense Route of the Negev
    Inscribed: 2005
    2.92
    82
    7
    Oboda 630
  • Mantua and Sabbioneta
    Inscribed: 2008
    3.17
    196
    7
    May 2012 earthquake damaged the Ducal Palace in Mantua
    See visitmantua.blogspot.jp
  • Monastery of Batalha
    Inscribed: 1983
    3.44
    234
    11
    slight damage from 1755 Lisbon earthquake
  • Chavin
    Inscribed: 1985
    3.12
    55
    6
    1970
  • Cuzco
    Cuzco
    Peru
    Inscribed: 1983
    3.85
    265
    9
    21 May 1950. An "earthquake shook the city, causing the destruction of more than one third of the city's structures." (Wiki) and "The major earthquake that hit Cusco in 1950 badly destroyed the Dominican Priory and Church of Santo Domingo, which were built on top of the impressive Korikancha (Temple of the Sun). The city's Inca architecture, however, survived the earthquake. Many of the old Inca walls were thought to have been lost after the earthquake, but the granite walls of the Koricancha were exposed, as well as many walls throughout the city. While some wanted to restore the buildings to their colonial splendor, some of Cusco citizens urged city officials to retain the exposed walls. Eventually they won out and now tourists from around the world enjoy looking at these ruins within the living city" (Simple Wiki). In 1951 UNESCO was called in to report on actions to be taken - see report
    See unesdoc.unesco.org
  • Jiuzhaigou Valley
    Inscribed: 1992
    4.10
    57
    3
    August 2017
    See www.dw.com
  • Nessebar
    Nessebar
    Bulgaria
    Inscribed: 1983
    2.99
    142
    10
    Earthquake of 1913 damaged 14th century Church of St. John Aliturgetus and Church of St. Sophia
  • Popocatepetl monasteries
    Inscribed: 1994
    2.76
    108
    10
    Each one of the 14 sites was affected and had to be closed, after the September 19, 2017 earthquake. The temples of Tlacayapán and Totolapán seem to have been the most affected.
    See www.eluniversal.com.mx
  • Puebla
    Puebla
    Mexico
    Inscribed: 1987
    3.38
    157
    9
    By both the June 15, 1999 Earthquake at Tehuacán and the September 19, 2017 Earthquake
    See www.cenapred.gob.mx
  • Rhodes
    Rhodes
    Greece
    Inscribed: 1988
    3.61
    182
    7
    1481 Rhodes earthquake: "the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes was sufficiently damaged to require immediate rebuilding"
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Vigan
    Vigan
    Philippines
    Inscribed: 1999
    2.91
    64
    11
    July 27, 2022: "The quake brought damage to Cathedral of Vigan, one of the country’s oldest Augustinian churches."
    See ptvnews.ph
  • Urbino
    Urbino
    Italy
    Inscribed: 1998
    3.27
    185
    8
    Urbino Cathedral: "On 12 January 1789, a powerful earthquake toppled the cupola, and made a reconstruction necessary. The project was entrusted to Giuseppe Valadier, and completed by 1801 in the present Neoclassical style.
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Ravenna
    Ravenna
    Italy
    Inscribed: 1996
    4.15
    272
    8
    The apse of the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo was destroyed by an earthquake and reconstructed. This explains why it isn't covered in mosaics like the walls of the church.
    See fr.wikipedia.org
  • Agrigento
    Inscribed: 1997
    3.72
    217
    8
    "The other temples" (apart from those of Hera Lacinia and Concordia) "are much more fragmentary, having been toppled by earthquakes long ago and quarried for their stones."
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Villa Romana del Casale
    Inscribed: 1997
    3.77
    161
    12
    "There are indications that the earlier house was destroyed by an earthquake in the first decade of the 4th century". (AB Ev)
  • Medina of Marrakesh
    Inscribed: 1985
    3.73
    338
    11
    2023 Marrakesh-Safi earthquake: "the Koutoubia mosque's iconic minaret has suffered substantial cracks, while the minaret of the Kharbouch Mosque in Jemaa El Fnaa Square is almost completely destroyed and many sections of the city’s historic walls have collapsed. The worst hit area in the city is reportedly its ancient Jewish quarter—the Mellah—where historic homes have been badly damaged."
    See www.theartnewspaper.com
  • Ksar of Aït Ben Haddou
    Inscribed: 1987
    3.49
    213
    8
    2023 Marrakesh-Safi earthquake: “.. photos show damaged and cracked buildings. The collective granary which overlooks the ksar was reportedly seriously damaged.”
    See www.theartnewspaper.com
  • Yogyakarta
    Yogyakarta
    Indonesia
    Inscribed: 2023
    2.95
    171
    5
    "In 2006, a severe earthquake affected Yogyakarta with many lives lost and considerable damage to the nominated property." (AB ev)
  • Tell Umm Amer
    Palestine
    Inscribed: 2024
    0
    0
    Abandoned after a seventh-century earthquake (WMF 2012)
  • Pienza
    Pienza
    Italy
    Inscribed: 1996
    3.07
    193
    9
    The bell tower of the Duomo was damaged by the earthquake of 1545 and restored in 1570.
    See it.wikipedia.org
  • Old Town of Lijiang
    Inscribed: 1997
    3.54
    112
    11
    1996
  • Lima
    Lima
    Peru
    Inscribed: 1988
    2.84
    257
    10
    1656
  • Tabriz Bazaar
    Inscribed: 2010
    2.59
    46
    4
    In 1780, at the beginning of the Qajar dynasty, the most destructive earthquake in the dense seismic history of Tabriz completely destroyed the town; it was, however, rapidly rebuilt (AB ev)
  • Rome
    Rome
    Holy See, Italy
    Inscribed: 1980
    4.58
    666
    13
    Baths of Caracalla damaged in the earthquake that destroyed L'Aquila in 2009
  • Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple
    Inscribed: 2021
    2.62
    10
    2
    "There was a major earthquake during the 17th century which caused some damage. It survived the earthquake due to its 'sandbox technique' of laying foundation." (wiki)
  • Umm Al-Jimāl
    Inscribed: 2024
    2.85
    30
    4
    "Around this time the population decreased, especially after an earthquake hit Umm el-Jimal in A.D. 749. The site was gradually abandoned during the 9th century, in the Abbasid era. The actual cause of that abandonment is best seen as a combination of events – the aftermath of earthquake, rolling pandemic, drought and shift of political epicenter to Baghdad." - (Umm el-Jimal Project)
    See www.ummeljimal.org
  • Palmyra
    Palmyra
    Syria
    Inscribed: 1980
    3.98
    66
    3
    (1089, led to abandonment)
  • Quanzhou
    Inscribed: 2021
    3.40
    60
    4
    Luoyang Bridge was damaged by an earthquake in 1607, when "some parts of the bridge floor fractured". (Nomination file, p. 306)
  • Kathmandu Valley
    Inscribed: 1979
    3.81
    163
    10
    15 January 1934 ("The three towns of Nepal—Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan were severely affected and almost all the buildings collapsed") & 25 April 2015
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Meknes
    Meknes
    Morocco
    Inscribed: 1996
    2.96
    219
    6
    1755 Lisbon earthquake
  • Sabratha
    Inscribed: 1982
    3.43
    29
    3
    365
  • Dubrovnik
    Dubrovnik
    Croatia
    Inscribed: 1979
    4.08
    388
    15
    (1667 and fire)
  • Bordeaux
    Bordeaux
    France
    Inscribed: 2007
    3.26
    260
    7
    On February 2, 1427, the Cathedral of Saint-André was damaged by an earthquake that caused part of the vaults to collapse.
    See fr.wikipedia.org
  • Berat and Gjirokastra
    Inscribed: 2005
    3.54
    187
    7
    The existing housing of Berat dates mainly from the 18th and 19th centuries. Many of the houses suffered from a serious earthquake in 1851, and their upper stories were destroyed. Before the earthquake the buildings were all built in stone. In the reconstruction, however, the upper floors were built in timber, while maintaining the surviving stone structures of the ground floor. (AB Ev)
  • Belem
    Belem
    Portugal
    Inscribed: 1983
    3.43
    448
    14
    The Great Lisbon Eartquake of 1755
  • Aleppo
    Aleppo
    Syria
    Inscribed: 1986
    3.53
    68
    5
    Ancient citadel has been damaged by Feb 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake
    See www.arabnews.com
  • Aphrodisias
    Inscribed: 2017
    3.63
    103
    4
    multiple between 350 and 360 CE, 600, 1957 (AB ev)
  • Rabat
    Rabat
    Morocco
    Inscribed: 2012
    3.16
    215
    7
    Many structures in Chellah/Sala Colonia were damaged by the 1755 Lisbon earthquake
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Venetian Works of Defence
    Venetian Works of Defence
    Croatia, Italy, Montenegro
    Inscribed: 2017
    2.99
    383
    10
    Kotor, 15 April 1979
  • Valparaiso
    Inscribed: 2003
    3.12
    160
    12
    (Aug 17 1906, May 22 1960)
  • Thessalonika
    Inscribed: 1988
    2.97
    242
    9
    Some sites were damaged during an earthquake in 630, others during the Chalkidiki earthquakes of 1932 and the Rotunda in 1978 (wiki)
  • Syracuse
    Inscribed: 2005
    3.59
    247
    8
    The city was struck by two ruinous earthquakes in 1542 and 1693 (same as Val di Noto)
  • Silk Roads: Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor
    Silk Roads: Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor
    China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan
    Inscribed: 2014
    3.02
    198
    9
    Burana Tower at Balasagun, "The last major earthquake in the 15th century destroyed the top half of the tower, reducing it to its current height of 25m" + Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an: 1556 Shaanxi earthquake
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Selimiye Mosque
    Inscribed: 2011
    3.47
    116
    4
    "The earthquake of 1752 caused some damage to the balconies of one minaret, some of the window glass and cracked the dome over the Muvakkithane." (AB ev)
  • San Pedro de la Roca Castle
    Inscribed: 1997
    2.95
    57
    3
    Between 1675 and 1692 the fortress was damaged by a series of earthquakes and reconstruction had to be carried out under the direction of Francisco Pérez between 1693 and 1695 ... it was again damaged by earthquakes between 1757 and 1766. (wiki)
  • Ruins of León Viejo
    Inscribed: 2000
    2.21
    47
    5
    "The final blow came on 11 January 1610, when a severe earthquake destroyed what was still standing" (AB)
  • Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France
    Inscribed: 1998
    2.82
    304
    14
    The Basilica of Notre-Dame du Port in Clermont-Ferrand was damaged by strong earthquakes which shook the region in 1478 and more particularly in 1490. This resulted in the fall of the pinnacle of the transept tower which was replaced by a bulbous bell tower.
    See fr.wikipedia.org
  • Route of Santiago de Compostela
    Inscribed: 1993
    3.41
    230
    8
    Lugo Cathedral: The "Renaissance retablo at the high altar (...) was destroyed in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake and fragments of it are housed in the church."
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Quebrada de Humahuaca
    Inscribed: 2003
    3.14
    63
    5
    Church of Tumbaya was destroyed in 1796.
  • Pompei
    Pompei
    Italy
    Inscribed: 1997
    4.38
    454
    8
    Pompeii and Herculaneum before the eruption (62 or 63 AD)
    See www.bbc.co.uk
  • Persian Garden
    Inscribed: 2011
    3.08
    88
    2
    Bagh-e Shahzadeh (1981), Bagh-e Fin (1743)
  • Paphos
    Paphos
    Cyprus
    Inscribed: 1980
    3.27
    221
    9
    1159, 1222
  • The Colonial Transisthmian Route of Panamá
    Inscribed: 2025
    2.93
    157
    9
    Panamá Viejo was ravaged by the earthquake of 1621 and suffered important damages (even partial collapses) in a very strong earthquake on September 7, 1882.
    See es.wikipedia.org
  • Padua’s fourteenth-century fresco cycles
    Inscribed: 2021
    3.93
    254
    12
    On 29 May 2012 the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua was damaged by one of the earthquakes that hit the Emilia-Romagna area; there were detachments on over 3 m² of plaster decorated by Casanova. The fragments were collected and placed safe, under the control of the Superintendency. The entire ambulatory that runs around the presbytery has been protected, so that any other detachments cannot hit pilgrims.
    See it.wikipedia.org
  • Old City of Jerusalem
    Inscribed: 1981
    4.36
    276
    12
    several Umayyad buildings south of the Temple Mount were destroyed in 749. archpark.org.il/
  • Oaxaca and Monte Alban
    Inscribed: 1987
    3.72
    136
    7
    Numerous - As recently as 1999 when Tomb 104 at Monte Alban was closed due to damamge. In particular :- 1787 San francisco Church "Earthquake damage in 1787 altered the appearance of this 16th century church", "An earthquake destroyed much of the city in 1854 and the slow rebuilding was shaken to pieces by another quake in 1931" (the 1931 event is said to have destroyed 70% of the city)
  • Nisa
    Nisa
    Turkmenistan
    Inscribed: 2007
    2.07
    50
    5
    Nisa was totally destroyed by an earthquake, which occurred during the first decade BC.
  • National History Park
    Inscribed: 1982
    3.88
    19
    7
    Sans souci - Haiti - A severe earthquake in 1842 destroyed a considerable part of the palace and devastated the nearby city of Cap-Ha?tien; the palace was never rebuilt
  • Mexico City and Xochimilco
    Inscribed: 1987
    3.84
    275
    8
    Sep 19 1985 earthquake, causing 5,000 deaths in Mexico City Metro area. Plus: • September 19, 2017: 1 abandoned two-storey building (the one at Mina 16 and 2 de Abril) collapsed within the inscribed area. Additionally, there is one where "major damage" is indicated at República Argentina 38. The map shows that 5 others were "damaged". • April 21, 1776: with an epicenter near Acapulco, the La Accorded jail collapsed, the Mint, the Cathedral, the National Palace, the Bishop's Palace, among others, were damaged. It lasted 4 minutes. • March 28, 1787 or San Sixto's: probably the most potent to rock Mexico (magnitude 8,6 Richter), with an epicenter in the coast of Guerrero and Oaxaca. It lasted 5-6 minutes and "a good part of the city from the XVI and XVII centuries had to be demolished". This Earthquake also devastated the city of Oaxaca. • 9 Cane of 1475: During the reign of Axayácatl, an earthquake left in ruins most of the buildings in the Anahuac valley, seriously damaging the temples and teocallis in Tenochtitlan, making the chinampas "sink", mountains collapse and producing a tsunami in the Texcoco lake.
    See www.nexos.com.mx
  • Longobards in Italy
    Inscribed: 2011
    2.81
    228
    14
    Cividale: "(...) the Patriarch's Palace (...) was mostly destroyed by the earthquake of 1511" – The dome of the church of Santa Sophia in Benevento was rebuilt after the 1668 earthquake. The cloister attached to the church was "probably destroyed by the earthquake on 25th October 989". (Nomination file, p. 112, 201, 206)
  • Kotor
    Kotor
    Montenegro
    Inscribed: 1979
    3.79
    307
    13
    Kotor, 15 April 1979
  • Kasbah of Algiers
    Inscribed: 1992
    2.52
    56
    4
    According to a 1721 document, the palace building of Dar Aziza in the lower Kasbah had three floors before losing one in the 1716 earthquake. (Wiki) The 1716 earthquake caused extreme damage with as many as 20.000 deaths.
  • Huascaran National Park
    Inscribed: 1985
    3.77
    67
    7
    (31 May 1970)
  • Haghpat and Sanahin
    Inscribed: 1996
    3.49
    132
    4
    Sometime around 1130, an earthquake destroyed parts of Haghpat Monastery and it was not restored until fifty years later. It also suffered from a major earthquake in 1988. (wiki)
  • Glacier parks
    Glacier parks
    Canada, United States of America
    Inscribed: 1979
    4.08
    109
    5
    In 1899 an 8.4 earthquake on the coast shattered the glacier into extensive calving; in 1958 an 8.0 earthquake devastated Lituya Bay on the coast (UNEP-WCMC)
  • Ferrara
    Ferrara
    Italy
    Inscribed: 1995
    3.19
    233
    10
  • Fasil Ghebbi
    Inscribed: 1979
    3.13
    59
    3
    1704
  • Diyarbakir Fortress and Hevsel Gardens
    Inscribed: 2015
    2.75
    72
    4
    Feb 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake: "UNESCO deplores the collapse of several buildings at the World Heritage site of Diyarbakır Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape"
    See whc.unesco.org
  • Dholavira: A Harappan City
    Inscribed: 2021
    2.85
    13
    2
    Dholavira was several times devastated by an earthquake, for instance in Stages IIIA and V of its existence. The earthquake at the end of Stage V, caused the site "to be abandoned for a short period of time." An earthquake in 2001 caused minor damage to the archaeological site. (AB Ev; Nomination text, p. 53, 71, 399)
  • Daphni, Hosios Loukas and Nea Moni of Chios
    Inscribed: 1990
    3.01
    180
    10
    Daphni Monastery: It suffered severe damage by earthquakes in 1889 and 1897, and was heavily damaged by the 1999 Athens earthquake. Still being restored.
  • Danube Limes
    Danube Limes
    Austria, Germany, Slovakia
    Inscribed: 2021
    2.05
    250
    6
    Carnuntum (ID No 31): In 350 Carnuntum was shaken by a severe earthquake, which caused considerable damage to the infrastructure and is archaeologically attested (especially in the Canabae) by destruction layers on the large public buildings. Presumably, a large part of the civilian population migrated due to this catastrophe and because of an incipient climate deterioration in the late 4th century.
    See de.wikipedia.org
  • Cyrene
    Cyrene
    Libya
    Inscribed: 1982
    3.00
    15
    1
    (262 + 365, Led to abandonment)
  • Coffee Cultural Landscape
    Inscribed: 2011
    2.97
    70
    7
    "The 1999 Colombia earthquake (...) heavily affected (...) the Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis region departments (...) The main economic activity of the region, the Colombian coffee industry was heavily affected. About 8,000 coffee farms were completely or partially destroyed, and 13,000 structures of several kinds of enterprises and industries were damaged and went temporarily or permanently out of service." (Wikipedia)
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Butrint
    Butrint
    Albania
    Inscribed: 1992
    3.30
    157
    9
    3rd Century
  • Bursa and Cumalikizik
    Inscribed: 2014
    3.20
    124
    8
    The most significant event in the more recent history of Bursa is probably the severe earthquake which occurred in 1855 and which destroyed the majority of architectural structures in the city. (AB ev)
  • Bam Cultural Landscape
    Inscribed: 2004
    2.82
    27
    2
    (Dec 26 2003)
  • Bagan
    Bagan
    Myanmar
    Inscribed: 2019
    4.44
    131
    6
    Bagan, located in an active earthquake zone, had suffered from many earthquakes over the ages, with over 400 recorded earthquakes between 1904 and 1975.... On 24 August 2016, a major earthquake hit central Burma and again did major damage in Bagan; this time almost 400 temples were destroyed. The Sulamani and Myauk Guni (North Guni) were severely damaged. (wiki)
  • Assisi
    Assisi
    Italy
    Inscribed: 2000
    3.76
    250
    8
    1997 earthquake
  • Armenian Monastic Ensembles
    Inscribed: 2008
    3.28
    34
    4
    St. Thaddeus was destroyed at around this time by an earthquake (1319).(AB ev)
  • Antigua Guatemala
    Inscribed: 1979
    3.71
    162
    10
    (1763)
  • Ancient Nara
    Inscribed: 1998
    4.00
    293
    14
    Several times
  • Divrigi
    Divrigi
    Turkiye
    Inscribed: 1985
    2.88
    49
    6
    "The superstructure along with the western façade collapsed in an earthquake in the early AH 10th / AD 16th century. It is thought, therefore, that the present oval domes replaced the original vaulting." (see link)
    See islamicart.museumwnf.org
  • Ahmadabad
    Inscribed: 2017
    2.60
    69
    6
    Ahmadabad was hit by earthquakes three times in its history (in 1819, 1821 and 2001), all of which caused major damage to the historic monuments of the city. (AB ev)
  • Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works
    Inscribed: 2005
    3.20
    42
    7
    April 2014 earthquake in Northern Chile: "The Site Manager defined a new list of priority interventions due to the earthquake, and the State Party requested International Assistance of the World Heritage Fund to design these interventions and implement two of them." (SOC)
    See whc.unesco.org
  • Rani-ki-Vav
    Inscribed: 2014
    3.53
    48
    4
    "The fact that the top storeys of the pavilions have been lost – likely in an earlier massive earthquake - leaves the side walls more vulnerable during earthquakes." (AB ev)
  • Ani
    Ani
    Turkiye
    Inscribed: 2016
    3.46
    49
    6
    devastating earthquakes in 1319 and 1605 (AB ev)
  • Sintra
    Sintra
    Portugal
    Inscribed: 1995
    3.88
    406
    14
    Sintra National Palace: The ensemble suffered damage after the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake but was restored in the "old fashion", according to contemporary accounts. The biggest loss to the great earthquake was the tower over the Arab Room, which collapsed (wiki)
  • 17th Century Port Royal
    Inscribed: 2025
    1.93
    13
    2
    A severe earthquake devastated the settlement in 1692 and submerged a large portion of it under water and sand. (AB ev)