1908 Messina Earthquake

28 December 1908: the Messina earthquake The event occurred, without any warning, at am on December 28, 1908. Most people, still wrapped in the peace of sleep, had no escape. The figures are frightening: at least 80,000 victims remained buried in the rubble of their homes, almost all the buildings collapsed, the architectural elements bearing witness to the centuries-old and glorious past history were erased in a few seconds. More than 91% of the buildings in Messina were destroyed or damaged beyond repair. The historic center of Reggio Calabria was also razed to the ground. The tsunami that followed the earthquake caused further damage and even more deaths. Estimates of the death toll vary; in Messina and Reggio Calabria between 72,000 and 110,000 people lost their lives.