August 21, 1856 Earthquake: Northern, Algeria

1856, Aug 21, 21h45m, Sea of Alboran, Algeria, intensity IX. The strong earthquake with its focus in the Algeria - Provence basin of the Mediterranean sea apparently occurred near the north - eastern coast of Algeria.

The earthquake covered the shore of the province of Constantine from Bougie to Bone. The strength of shocks was estimated as follows (from east to west). Not many citizens of La Calle noticed them. Quite appreciable shocks were in the region of Guelma, strong shocks were in Annaba (Bone) and Skikda. The earthquake was felt in Stora, and it was felt very strongly in Jijel. Sounds like explosions were heard in Bougie accompanied by strong shocks. Shocks were felt in Setif and Algiers. Weak tremors were in Batna. Strong shocks were felt on a ship sailing 15 miles from Jijel while the sea was calm and the weather was windless; measuring the sea depth with a plummet revealed no sand- bank. Two wavy shocks 3 s long were felt on the southwestern shore of the Island of Sardinia in Carloforte. The first shock was preceded by a hollow rumble and caused a variety of pottery to fall in houses, but it caused no serious damage. The second shock resulted in the bells ringing. These two shocks were also felt on fishermen's boats on the roadstead. The shocks in Iglesias and S. Pietro were not so strong.

The earthquake was felt on the Islands of Mallorca and Malta. The shocks were felt in Nice, Genoa and, possibly, in Geneva where they somewhat troubled the citizens. It was not noticed in Barcelona. The main shock was accompanied by numerous aftershocks which were felt in many places in the north-east of Algeria at least till October 2.

The earthquake in the seaport of Mahon was preceded by a flash of lightning similar to summer lightning. During the earthquake [?], the sea suddenly rose to a significant height and instantly flooded all the sea-fronts with such a force that the anchor chains of many ships were torn.

(above ref #2130)

Aug 21, 22, 1856, 21h, 12h, 37.1 N, 5.7 E, intensity IX and X (second shock), epicenter in the sea?. A disastrous earthquake in Algeria, Djidjelli and Collo ruined, at Philippeville even some very stable constructions thrown down, at Bougie the light-house almost collapsed, at Setif, Batna, Bane, Constantine, Gastonville, Robertville and Guelma the houses injured or cracked, fissures in the ground near Philippeville, tsunami, no damage at Alger and La Calle, felt also outside Algeria at Nice, Malta, Mahon (Baleares), Carloforte, Iglesias and San Pietro in Sardinia. (reference #1099)

Aug 21, 1856, 22:00, 37 deg 6 min N, 5 deg 42 min E, intensity X, Djidjelli. (ref #1193)

Aug 21, 1856, Destructive in North Kabylia, Jijeli area. (ref #1180)

Aug 22, 1856, 37 deg 1 min N, 5 deg 7 min E, intensity IX at Djidjelli, VIII at Bejaia (Candle); epicentre at sea, premonitory on August 21. (ref #1201)

Late at night on 21 Aug 1856, at 11h 50m, a damaging earthquake shook north central Algeria. Jijeli, then a small walled seaport built on the rocky peninsula, forming the extreme west point of the bay, was badly damaged. Following the shock, which lasted about 40 seconds, the sea retired for some distance and suddenly returned flooding the low-lying parts of the coast. The town, which at the time of the earthquake had a population of about 1,000 was evacuated immediately and its inhabitants encamped in the gardens outside the town. This shock was followed intermittently by many smaller earthquakes that were felt at Jijeli ad Philippeville, the most important of which occurred at 22h 05m, 00h 30m of the following day and which were felt within a radius of about 50 km. (ref #4022)

It was reported that this first main shock caused the death of five native persons, three women and two children [...] caused considerable damage and a great panic among the inhabitants of Djidjelli, Philippeville (Skikda now) Bougie (Bejaia now) and El Arrouch. (ref #9227)