The first of four destructive earthquakes struck southern Italy, destroying an estimated 10,000 homes.

A series of mainshocks struck Calabria on March 27–28 and June 9, 1638. The first three earthquakes had moment magnitudes estimated to be M_w 6.6–7.1. On June 9, another mainshock estimated at M_w  6.7 struck the same region, causing further damage and casualties. The four earthquakes resulted in as many as 30,000 fatalities.