Historical Earthquake History of Cyprus

As part of March 1–4 Earthquake Awareness Week, Assist. Prof. Dr. Hilmi Dindar from the Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering at Cyprus International University (CIU) stated that Cyprus has experienced many destructive earthquakes throughout its history and emphasized that the island is located within an earthquake zone. Dindar noted that Cyprus lies at the intersection of three tectonic plates and is situated in an active region known as the Cyprus Arc. He pointed out that being part of the Alpine-Himalayan earthquake belt—where a significant portion of the world's earthquakes occur—makes Cyprus seismically vulnerable.

In his assessment, Dindar stated that historical records clearly demonstrate this reality:
“The fact that Cyprus is located on an earthquake belt is supported not only by modern data but also by historical records. Therefore, it is of great importance that modern engineering solutions be prioritized in construction processes.”

Dindar explained that especially before the use of seismographs, earthquakes that occurred caused serious destruction across the island. He stated that the ancient cities of Salamis and Kourion suffered major damage, and earthquakes in 26 BC and 15 BC heavily affected the Paphos region. He also noted that the earthquake in 76 AD caused extensive destruction in many areas, particularly in Salamis.

Emphasizing that earthquakes continued to have significant effects during the Middle Ages, Dindar said that in 1222 a high-magnitude earthquake struck Paphos and Limassol, generating a tsunami along the coast. He recalled that the Mesaoria region was severely affected in 1491, and that the 1735 earthquake in Famagusta resulted in casualties. Assist. Prof. Dr. Hilmi Dindar stated that these historical earthquakes clearly demonstrate the necessity of adopting scientific and modern engineering approaches in construction and urban planning.