In July 1273, Durres and its surroundings were hit by a powerful earthquake. The shifts continued for several days. The most powerful, they were on date 14. That day, writes chronicles, “all that qytel came back from the ground and fell to the ground, the sea sparkled and burst out .. it seemed as if the end of the world had come.” There were many killed, while the living ones abandoned the ruined town from the foundations.