August 1, 2014 Earthquake: Algiers, Algeria

At least 4 people killed by jumping from buildings, 2 people died from heart attacks and 420 injured in the Algiers area. Felt (VI) at Algiers, Bab Ezzouar and Dar el Beida; (V) at Cheraga. Felt from Tipasa east to Boumerdes. Dar Beida, Algier, Algeria - CDI: 7; al-Arbaʿa Tas, Bumardas, Algeria - CDI: 6; Bab Ezzouar, Algier, Algeria - CDI: 6; Algiers, Algier, Algeria - CDI: 6 Saoula, Tībazah, Algeria - CDI: 6

Tectonic Summary

Seismotectonics of the Mediterranean Region and Vicinity

The Mediterranean region is seismically active due to the northward convergence (4-10 mm/yr) of the African plate with respect to the Eurasian plate along a complex plate boundary. This convergence began approximately 50 Ma and was associated with the closure of the Tethys Sea. The modern day remnant of the Tethys Sea is the Mediterranean Sea. The highest rates of seismicity in the Mediterranean region are found along the Hellenic subduction zone of southern Greece, along the North Anatolian Fault Zone of western Turkey and the Calabrian subduction zone of southern Italy. Local high rates of convergence at the Hellenic subduction zone (35mm/yr) are associated with back-arc spreading throughout Greece and western Turkey above the subducting Mediterranean oceanic crust. Crustal normal faulting throughout this region is a manifestation of extensional tectonics associated with the back-arc spreading. The region of the Marmara Sea is a transition zone between this extensional regime, to the west, and the strike-slip regime of the North Anatolian Fault Zone, to the east. The North Anatolian Fault accommodates much of the right-lateral horizontal motion (23-24 mm/yr) between the Anatolian micro-plate and Eurasian plate as the Anatolian micro-plate is being pushed westward to further accommodate closure of the Mediterranean basin caused by the collision of the African and Arabian plates in southeastern Turkey. Subduction of the Mediterranean Sea floor beneath the Tyrrhenian Sea at the Calabrian subduction zone causes a significant zone of seismicity around Sicily and southern Italy. Active volcanoes are located above intermediate depth earthquakes in the Cyclades of the Aegean Sea and in southern Italy.

(above from reference #13456)

ALGIERS, Algeria -- Algerian officials say six people are dead and 420 injured following an earthquake that shook Algiers Friday morning. Algeria's health ministry says four of the victims died after jumping from windows in panic. Authorities say two more people died of heart attacks during the quake, which measured 5.6 on the Richter scale. Most of the injured were treated and released, but 21 remained hospitalized. The earthquake happened at 0411 GMT and its epicenter was reported 19 kilometres northeast of Bologhine, a town north of the capital. (reference #11038)