Ibn al-Qalanisi
documented shaking in Damascus on the 11th, 14th, 24th, 26th,
and 28th of October 1138 CE and stated that
travellers and reliable witnesses have described these
shocks in the north [of Syria]
, with the strongest shocks
in
Aleppo and the surrounding area.
In
Aleppo, a large number of houses were said to
have collapsed, with damage to the city walls and cracks in the
citadel. The populace reportedly left their homes and departed
from the city—presumably sleeping outdoors due to continuing
aftershocks. Ibn al-Qalanisi also records that eyewitnesses
described between 80 and 100 shocks, presumably in
Aleppo.
He further reported that on the night of Friday,
15 October 1138 CE, there was a strong earthquake in Syria,
and that in the early hours of Wednesday, 21 June 1139 CE,
there were some terrifying shocks
, presumably felt in
Damascus, which
struck men’s hearts with fear.