1804 Almería earthquake

Localdate25 August 1804

Localtime8:25 pm (CET)

Magnitude6.2–6.4

Epicenter36°54′N 2°24′W / 36.9°N 2.4°W^[1]

1804 Almería earthquake

Local date	25 August 1804 (1804-08-25)
Local time	8:25 pm (CET)
Magnitude	6.2–6.4 M_w
Epicenter	36°54′N 2°24′W / 36.9°N 2.4°W / 36.9; -2.4^[1]
Areas affected	Spain
Max. intensity	EMS-98 IX (Destructive)
Casualties	400 dead

The 1804 Almería earthquake was a highly destructive seismic event in the Province of Almería, southern Spain. It occurred on 25 August at 8:25 pm local time. The mainshock had a maximum intensity assigned VIII–IX on the European macroseismic scale (EMS), and an estimated moment magnitude of 6.2–6.4 M_w . At least 400 people were reported killed.

Southern Spain is located within a zone of compression caused by the complex convergence between the Nubian and Iberian plates. The plate boundary location remains poorly defined. Seismicity is high in a 400 km (250 mi) zone known as the Eastern Betics Shear Zone. Moderately large earthquakes greater than magnitude 4.5 are infrequent, but have been destructive. Almería experienced heavy damage during the earthquakes of 1487, 1522, 1658, 1804 and 1910. The earthquakes associated with these faults display reverse and left-lateral slip.^[2]^[3]

Earthquake

Earthquakes in the Almería region are associated with shallow faulting on northwest–southeast and north–south trending faults.^[2] Prior to the mainshock in August, a strong earthquake was also reported in the region on 13 January 1804. It had an approximate epicenter 30–40 km (19–25 mi) south–southwest of Motril. The town sustained damage that corresponded to VII–VIII on the EMS scale. It had a moment magnitude estimated to be 6.3.^[3] Based on the macroseismic data available, the approximate epicenter would likely be in the Alboran Sea or near the heavily damaged town of Dalías. The offshore epicenter location was given as 36.6°N, 2.8°W, while the onshore location was 36.80°N, 2.85°W, with moment magnitudes of 6.2 and 6.4, respectively.^[3]

Damage

The town of Dalías experienced the greatest damage and loss. All the buildings in the town were destroyed, and 267 people were killed.^[4] Damage corresponded to VIII–IX on the EMS scale. Within 45 minutes of the mainshock, three strong aftershocks and many weaker ones were felt. Five shocks were felt at Albuñol. Homes were damaged in Rochetta. A total of 2,500 homes were heavily damaged or destroyed and over 4,000 were slightly damaged.^[5]^[1]

In Berja, homes collapsed, while the walls and towers of churches toppled. An estimated 36–45 people died in the town. Many were killed while fleeing from buildings. In the flat plains, heavy damage was reported, many buildings were left in a state of ramshackle. The Temple of the Annunciation, a parish in the city, as well as several buildings were in shambles.^[6]

The city of Almería was subjected to VII intensity shaking, causing buildings to crack. Many residents became fearful, and the local government had to impose new regulations to maintain orderly conduct. Saint Stephen's Day festivities were prohibited due to debris on the streets.^[6]

Four deaths and many injuries were recorded in Canjáyar. A total of 60 homes were destroyed. In the aftermath, 120 additional homes and a church were to be demolished. Collapses also occurred in Roquetas de Mar, where the seismic intensity was evaluated to be VIII. The town hall and church sustained cracks on its floors. The church of Adra was damaged but remained open. The two upper sections of the church were demolished and reconstructed.^[6]

Significant damage was observed in the Alpujarras. At Turón, homes had to be demolished. Many structures in Albuñol were affected, including the towers of a church. Fissures and landslides occurred on the nearby mountainsides. However, there were only two injuries. One home was destroyed in Ohanes. Landslides caused additional damage to buildings.^[6]

According to government information, the official death toll was 173, but a work published by Instituto Geográfico Nacional suggested the actual death toll exceeded 200. A total death toll of 400 was totaled in the towns of Berja, Canjáyar, Roquetas de Mar and Dalías.^[7] The Gaceta de Madrid cited a death toll of 407.^[5] The heavy losses resulted in the government granting tax exemptions to the populations of Almería, Berja, Dalias, Vícar, Roquetas, Canjáyar, Adra, Ugíjar, Motril and Turón.^[6]

v t e Earthquakes in the 1800s
1800s	1802 Vrancea 1803 Garhwal 1804 Kisakata 1804 Almería 1805 Molise
1810s	1810 Crete 1810 North Korea 1811–1812 New Madrid 1812 Caracas 1812 San Juan Capistrano 1812 Ventura 1815 Pinglu 1815 Bali 1816 North Atlantic 1816 Guatemala 1817 Santiago del Estero 1819 Copiapó 1819 Rann of Kutch
1820s	1822 Costa Rica 1822 Aleppo 1825 Blida 1828 Sanjō 1829 Torrevieja
1830s	1830 Cixian 1833 Bihar–Nepal 1833 Kunming 1833 Sumatra 1833 Shōnai 1834 Jerusalem 1834 Java 1835 Concepción 1837 Galilee 1837 Valdivia 1838 Vrancea 1838 San Andreas 1839 Ava
1840s	1840 Ahora 1841 Kamchatka 1841 Caída da Praia 1842 Cap-Haïtien 1843 Nias 1843 Tokachi 1843 Guadeloupe 1843 Wanganui 1844 Salta 1847 Zenkoji 1848 Marlborough
1850s	1850 Xichang 1851 Vulture 1852 Banda Sea 1852 Acapulco 1853 Shiraz 1854 San Salvador 1854 Iga–Ueno 1854 Tōkai 1854 Nankai 1855 Wairarapa 1855 Bursa 1855 Edo 1856 Djijelli 1856 Heraklion 1857 Fort Tejon 1857 Basilicata 1858 Hietsu 1859 Erzurum 1859 Shamakhi
1860s	1861 Sumatra 1861 Mendoza 1861 Mendoza 1863 Jujuy 1863 Hawke's Bay 1863 Manila 1865 Memphis 1866 Bingöl 1867 Manhattan 1867 Java 1867 Virgin Islands 1867 Keelung 1868 Hawaii 1868 Arica 1868 Ecuador 1868 Hayward 1869 Christchurch 1869 Cachar
1870s	1870 Batang 1870 Charlevoix 1871 Lānaʻi 1871 Orán 1871–72 Quchan 1872 Hamada 1872 Owens Valley 1872 Amik 1872 North Cascades 1873 Alpago 1875 Cúcuta 1877 Iquique 1879 Bozqush 1879 Surigao 1879 Gansu
1880s	1880 Southern Luzon 1880 Zagreb 1881 Chios 1881 Nicobar Islands 1882 Panama 1883 Casamicciola 1883 Çeşme 1884 Colchester 1884 Andalusian 1885 Belovodoskoe 1886 Peloponnese 1886 Charleston 1887 Sonora 1887 Verny 1888 Ritter Island 1888 Río de la Plata 1888 North Canterbury 1889 Chilik 1889 Kumamoto
1890s	1891 Port Waikato 1891 Mino–Owari 1892 Laguna Salada 1892 Catamarca 1892 Vacaville–Winters 1893 Malatya 1893 Quchan 1894 Vlorë 1894 Atalanti 1894 Tokyo 1894 Istanbul 1894 Shōnai 1894 San Juan 1895 Quchan 1895 Ljubljana 1895 Balkan 1895 Charleston 1896 Sanriku 1896 Rikuu Assam 1897 Mindanao 1898 Balıkesir 1898 Mare Island 1898 Trilj 1899 Yakutat Bay 1899 Aydın–Denizli 1899 Ceram 1899 San Jacinto

1804 Almería earthquake

Earthquake

Damage

See also

References

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