Western Syria lies across the boundary between the African Plate and the Arabian Plate , which consists of the various segments of the Dead Sea Transform . The main strand passing through the Lebanon restraining bend is the Yammouneh Fault , which was responsible for the 1202 earthquake . To the north of this is the Missyaf Fault ( or Ghab Fault ) , which continues up to the Ghab Basin . One earlier earthquake has been identified on this fault segment , the 115 Antioch earthquake . The Missyaf Fault is considered the most likely structure responsible for the 1170 event . The lack of any later major earthquakes on this segment suggests that one is now overdue
115 Antioch earthquake
115 Antioch earthquake
1170 Syria earthquake