Segal et al. (2013:210) suggest that the Northwest Church suffered damage in a 7th or early 8th century CE earthquake. They note that the final phase of the church (Phase III) represented “the decline of the basilica which must have been the result of some unspecified disaster of an unknown date but which clearly caused serious damage to the nave.” They also observed that “eloquent testimony to the ancient repairs made to the mosaic floor can be seen at the southern pastophorion right under the arched entrance to this room," where "the mosaic bears traces of repairs carried out after it was damaged, probably during an earthquake."

Although Segal et al. (2013:210) suggested the 717 CE Earthquake as a possible candidate, the epicenter of this event was likely too far away to have caused such damage. The Jordan Valley Quake(s) of 659/660 CE, however, is a plausible candidate—as is an earthquake unreported in currently extant historical records.