January 13, 1804 Earthquake: Dalias, Almeria, Spain

Name: January 13, 1804 Earthquake: Dalias, Almeria, Spain
Start: 1804-01-13
Location: Dalias, Almeria, Spain

January 13, 1804 · M6.7 · 2 deaths

A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Dalias, Almeria, Spain on January 13, 1804 at 17:45 UTC. It killed 2 people.

Map

Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.

The earthquake

Date: January 13, 1804
Time: 17:45 UTC
Place: Dalias, Almeria, Spain
Magnitude: 6.7 (Mw)
Intensity: 8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Tsunami: Yes: the tsunami it caused
Epicenter: 36.083° N, 3.583° W
Country: Spain

The toll

Deaths: 2
Damage: Limited (under about $1 million)
Houses destroyed: Few (about 1 to 50)
Houses damaged: Few (about 1 to 50)

Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

Reference #12808:

translated from Spanish

The earthquake of January 13, which lasted 50 seconds, damaged the four churches of Berja and Dalias and caused the abandonment of the population, whose neighbors camped abroad for more than a month. (pg. 45)

Tormo confirms that the January 13 earthquake was destructive in Berja and Dalias, damaging the four churches and other private buildings, forcing the population to abandon their homes. (pg. 78 & 96)

In Roquetas, the January 13 earthquake knocked down the roof of the soda warehouse, and was felt even stronger in the Casa de la Real Salina, suggesting an intensity of at least EMS 6 in Roquetas. (pg. 121)

[...] lasting thirty seconds and causing widespread damage to building stock of the city of Almeria.

We do not know which of the two major earthquakes [13th or 21st] in January is primarily responsible for the observed damage [in Almeria], the effects of which could be logically cumulative. (pg. 131)

According to Madoz, the Almegijar town hall was destroyed in the 1804 earthquakes, without specifying whether it refers to the events of January or August, although, due to its location, it seems more reasonable to attribute it to the January 13 earthquake. (pg. 209)

Reference #12773:

2 deaths; magnitude 6.7

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

Significant earthquakes of 1804 The 1800s Recent earthquakes near here This day in weather history

Sources

Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 10120.