Ibn al-Latif al-Baghdadi wrote an extensive and detailed account of the earthquake as it was experienced in Egypt, supplemented by letters containing firsthand reports from Hamat and Damascus. In Cairo, he stated that the first shock struck in the early morning and lasted for a long time. He described the motion of the ground as sinusoidal, noting that two strong shocks followed the first. The tremors, he said, “shook buildings, caused doors to tremble and roof-joists to crack,” and “threatened to ruin buildings in poor repair or on elevated or very high sites.” Because he did not report fatalities or building collapses, his description likely corresponds to an intensity of VI on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) Scale. Weaker, short-lived shocks followed around midday. In Egypt, the earthquake was felt from Qus to Damietta and Alexandria, but the greatest destruction and loss of life occurred in Syria. Al-Baghdadi remarked that the damage was “far greater” in territories controlled by the Franks than in those held by Muslims, and that Jerusalem “suffered only slight damage.” He also mentioned an unlocated tsunami—presumably on the Lebanese or Syrian coast—and said the earthquake was felt as far as Akhlat and Cyprus.

The letter from Hamat described a long-duration earthquake in the early morning, followed by a second, stronger shock of shorter duration. Destruction was reported at Hamat, Hama, Barin, Damascus, and Baalbek. On the following day, two additional shocks struck around the times of midday and afternoon prayers (approximately 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.).

The letter from Damascus recounted a long-lasting shock that occurred at daybreak. Damage was reported at the Great Mosque of Damascus, including to its dome, two minarets, and sixteen crenellations. Many houses collapsed, and a building known as Kallaseh “was swallowed up, as the earth was open.” A man was said to have died at the Gate of Jirun. Banias and Safed were partly overthrown, though in apparent contradiction, another report claimed that only one person survived in Safed. Tenin was partially destroyed, and in Nablus “not a wall remained upright, except in the Street of the Samaritans.” Jerusalem “suffered nothing,” while Beit Jan was said to have been completely destroyed along with many towns in the Hauran. The letter also reported that “the greater part of Acre was overthrown” and “a third of the city of Tyre.” Irka and Safith “were swallowed up,” and severe damage occurred on Mount Lebanon—possibly referring to a landslide in which two hundred people perished. Shocks continued to be felt day and night for four days after the initial tremor.

Al-Baghdadi recorded the date of the earthquake in both the Coptic and Islamic calendars. The day of the week and the date in the Islamic calendar differ by one day, both in his own text and in the two letters from Hamat and Damascus, suggesting that the Islamic calendar in use at the time may not have aligned precisely with the modern reckoning. Since the day and date correspond correctly in the Coptic calendar, and this date agrees with the 20 May 1202 CE date provided by independent Western sources, the main shock most likely occurred around daybreak on 20 May 1202 CE. te agrees with the 20 May date provided by some of the independent western sources, the correct date for the main initial shock is around daybreak on 20 May 1202 CE.