At 5:20 am a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Strait of Messina, destroying around 90 percent of the buildings in Messina while the population slept. A tsunami reaching up to 12 metres arrived within minutes, sweeping away survivors who had fled to the shoreline.
Russian and British naval vessels anchored nearby became the first responders, an early example of international disaster assistance by military forces. Rescue continued for days, with survivors pulled from rubble more than a week after the shock.
The rebuilding of Messina introduced some of the first anti-seismic building regulations in Italy, including height limits and reinforced frames.
Why this event still matters
Historical incidents shape the rules that protect people today — building codes, evacuation policy, warning systems and inspection regimes almost always trace back to a specific disaster. Studying Messina Earthquake and Tsunami alongside current events is how preparedness improves.
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