November 7, 1802 Earthquake: Kolea, Blida, Algiers, Algeria

November 7 (8), 1802, 1Oh45m, Alboran Sea, Algeria, 36.5 N, 2.9E. An earthquake caused extensive damage on the Plain of Mitidja. The vertical direction of shocks was predominant. Only 6 houses and the temple of Ali ben Embarak stood fast in Kolea (20 km to the west of Algiers) that had numbered 900 houses; most people were killed. The inhabitants of the settlement of 200 houses near Blida suffered the same fate.

Heavy destruction occurred in the region of Beni-Khalil within the eastern part of the plain; the shocks were predominantly vertical and lasted 4 s. The earthquake in the town of Algiers lasted about 20 s and caused the collapse of old houses and damaged many buildings; almost all the houses cracked. The seaquake was felt on a vessel 30 (50) miles off the shore. The sea in the harbor of Algiers was turbulent. Strong aftershocks that lasted 11 days and nights and were felt in Spain forced the inhabitants to spend the nights outside their houses. It was most likely a seaquake. (reference #2130)