Michael the Syrian described a prolonged earthquake that lasted for several days and shook Damascus like leaves on trees. Myriads of people perished nearby in Ghuta and Darayya. Bostra, Nawa, Derʿat, and Baalbek were said to have been completely swallowed up. At Baalbek, the water in the springs turned to blood. At Beit Qoubayê (location unknown), a fortress collapsed, killing eighty people, and many more died in the surrounding settlement.

A great seismic sea wave was also reported, destroying many cities along unnamed coasts. In Balqaʾ or Moab, another wave was said to have moved a fortress three miles. Tiberias was destroyed except for a single house; thirty synagogues collapsed, and buildings around a thermal bath were ruined. The spring beside Jericho was displaced six miles. In Mabbug, a church and city walls collapsed, killing many inhabitants.

Michael further related that a village near Mount Tabor was moved four miles from its place with all its homes and buildings intact. Neither a stone nor a small mud brick fell. Nor did any person or animal die — not even a chicken! Unrelated destruction in Constantinople, Nicaea, and other nearby cities was also mentioned.