Justice
Scenes From the 1755 Earthquake That Turned Lisbon to Ruins
Tsunamis and tremors reached multiple continents; Portugal's biggest city was thrown into chaos.
Today is the anniversary of an earthquake that shook Lisbon to its core.
In 1755, a devastating quake killed tens of thousands of people and caused 15-foot fissures through the center of the city. It was felt throughout the country, triggering a tsunami that swept through the center of Lisbon, a series of fires that lasted for days, and aftershocks that continued for months. Tremors and huge waves reached the shores of North Africa and the Azores.