1822 earthquake sequence devastates the Aleppo–Antakya region

Background. The affected region comprised the northern part of the Ottoman Empire, specifically areas in modern Turkey and Syria. Antakya, the Turkish form of Antioch, is a municipality and the capital district of Hatay Province, Turkey. Aleppo, a major city in northern Syria, had been part of the Ottoman Empire since 1516 and served as the center of the Aleppo Eyalet. The region's seismic activity was linked to the northern segment of the fault zone, which had previously experienced major earthquakes.

Damage. The earthquake caused severe damage over a large area, extending from Gaziantep to Antakya in modern Turkey and Aleppo to Khan Sheikhun in modern Syria. In Aleppo, the damage was so severe that many residents moved out of the city, leaving most of the old centre unrepaired. Some new houses were built using wooden frames outside the ruined walls. Antakya was also hit by the earthquake and damaged. The Citadel in Aleppo had been extensively damaged by earthquakes, notably in 1822.

Aftermath. Damaging aftershocks continued for more than two years, with the most destructive occurring on 5 September 1822. The population of Aleppo, estimated at around 400,000 before the earthquake, declined to 110,000 by the end of the 19th century. This decline was followed by cholera and plague attacks in 1823 and 1827, respectively. The city remained under Ottoman rule until the empire's collapse.