It had an estimated magnitude in the range 6.6–6.7 Mw and a maximum felt intensity of IX (destructive) on the European macroseismic scale (EMS).

The East Eliki Fault is thought to have ruptured during an earthquake in 373 BC, destroying the ancient city of Helike.

The SISCOR approach used, based on the method developed by Bakun and Wentworth in 1997, gave an epicentral location in the middle of the Gulf, consistent with the observed tsunami.

[2] A possible surface rupture was reported soon after the earthquake by Johann Friedrich Julius Schmidt, then the director of the National Observatory of Athens.

Run-ups of about 2 m were reported generally along the northern coast accompanied by inundation of 15–60 m. The tsunami led to significant damage to both merchant vessels and rowing boats in the Gulf of Itea.