August 25, 1804 Earthquake: Almeria, Dalias, Roquetas, Spain

Ref #497:

1804, Aug 25, beginning at 8h30m a.m. Almeria in Granada, and the surrounding district. Also at Madrid, Malaga, and Carthagena. The region shaken was parallel to the line of the Sierra-Nevada, and consequently to the axis of the Mediterranean basin. Within 3/4 of an hour, three terrible shocks and many slighter ones were felt at Almeria. At Albugnol five very violent shocks. The Salinas of the Bay of Rochetta were submerged, and much salt destroyed. Near Albugnol the sea remained quite calm. Commenced with a low subterranean noise. Houses fell or were much injured. Rochetta was for the most part ruined. Castel del Popolo, Bella Villa dell Palma, and Eniz were also destroyed. In Dalias men were buried beneath the ruins and in Feliz a bell fell from the church tower. At Albugnol the heavens were obscured by a dark mist, which resolved itself into a cloud, whence, in 10 minutes, five terrible flashes of fire (lightning?) issued, and after each flash a shock took place. A strong wind dispersed the clouds, and intense heat set in, which lasted until the 28th, as did also the shock. A mountain in the neighbourhood was cleft, and from the opening a stream of water poured out upon the lower parts of the town. Springs disappeared in some places, and new ones burst forth in others. Rivers were dammed up and changed their course.

Ref #1099:

1804, Aug. 22-28, 36.9 N, 2.4 W, Intensity VIII-XI. Roquetas was for the most part ruined by the main shock on Aug. 25, 07h, Salinas in the Bay of Roquetas submerged, houses collapsed at Canjayar (four victims), Turon and Dalias, felt at Madrid and Cartagena.

Ref #1093:

1804, Aug. 25. Intensity X to X 1/2. Disastrous earthquake at Almeria and the country west of this city, especially in Roquetas, which was partly destroyed, and Dalias where 162 people died. The population was freed from taxes. At Albunol a mountain opened slightly. Grenada experienced some damage. Impact in Malaga, Cartagena and Madrid.

Ref #1193:

1804, Aug. 25, Dalias, 08:30 UTC, 36 deg 48 N, 2 deg 48 min W, intensity IX.

Ref #1055:

1804, Aug. 25, Spain (Granada). Almeira and the surrounding district of Malaga and Carthagena, Castel del Popolo, or Castillo, Enir, Dalias and Roquetas. Intensity II which corresponds to buildings may be unroofed or shattered and some may fall, the ground may be badly cracked in places and small landslips occur.

Ref #12808:

translated from Spanish (pg. 257-261)

Some authors cite La Gaceta de Madrid to provide the number of 407 deceased, although in this work it has not been possible to locate the original note in said newspaper or its publication date.

The official data that the government managed in 1804, according to the documents of file 2495, show a balance of 173 fatalities in the earthquake of August 25, 1804, distributed among 7 different locations.

It is very likely that the total number of people injured during the earthquake exceeded 200.

The analysis of the documentation contributed to this work allows estimating the number of damaged buildings in at least 10 localities. In 6 of them, the data is sufficiently precise to be able to distinguish between the severely damaged (damage degrees 4 or 5) or moderate (damage degrees 2 or 3). There were at least 2,500 seriously damaged buildings and more than 4,000 moderately damaged buildings.

Ref #12773:

1804, Aug. 25, Dalias, 08:25 UTC. 407 deaths, magnitude 6.4 Mw