1790 Oran earthquake
Local date | 10 October 1790 |
---|---|
Magnitude | Muk 6.0–6.5 |
Epicenter | 35°54′N 0°36′E / 35.9°N 0.6°E [1] |
Areas affected | Algeria, Spain and Tunisia |
Max. intensity | VIII (Heavily damaging) – X (Very destructive) |
Tsunami | Minor |
Casualties | 3,000 dead [1] |
The 1790 Oran earthquake occurred on October 10, striking near the coastal city of
Impact
Beginning on October 8, the Spanish-conquered city was rocked by a series of strong earthquakes which were felt as far as Spain and Malta. The earthquakes were felt by residents in Granada, Cartagena, Málaga, and Santa Fe. Violent shaking was felt at Oran until October 25. Major damage occurred in Oran, with much of the historic city destroyed. Reports of damage also came from Carthage, Tunisia, and Spain across the Mediterranean Sea.[1]
On the morning of October 10, at 01:15 local time, the most violent shock razed many homes in Oran to the ground, trapping 1,000 people. Multiple shocks occurred in the aftermath, causing destruction and killing many. Landslides were triggered, spilling debris into the city. Modern construction, and a fortress in the city remained intact after the shocks, and no damage was reported outside Oran.[2]
According to the
Because the city streets were narrow, many survivors gathered at an open space right after the quake. Looting of personal belongings took place in the ruined city. In response, the colonial announced capital punishment for anyone caught. Aid was provided to the survivors one week later, which included tents, food, and medical assistance. The
Tsunami
A notable tsunami was triggered during the quake, and witnessed by many at the coast. Sailors on ships were thrown overboard when the strong waves struck. Many residents ran from the coast as the tsunami approached. The waves inundated the coasts of North Africa, but no disturbance of the sea was reported in Morocco.[6] Boats were taken from ports and drifted away. Small waves also struck the
Tectonic setting
The nation of
The converging plates create a zone of compression in northern Algeria, which are accommodated by mainlyEarthquake
Previous studies of earthquakes in Algeria and on this particular event have assigned the maximum seismic intensity at IX–X on the
The high intensity shaking and tsunami generation is due to the shallow
Other events
On June 6, 2008, a Mwc 5.5 earthquake struck off the coast of Oran with a maximum felt intensity of VII on the EMS-98 scale or VI on the Mercalli.[10][9] The earthquake killed one person and caused dozens of injuries. The moment tensor solution indicated reverse faulting at a shallow depth with an epicenter offshore. The faults offshore are activated by northwest–southeast compression as a result of the Africa-Eurasia convergence in the Mediterranean.[11]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Significant Earthquake Information". ngdc.noaa.gov. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ S2CID 134010088.
- ^ a b c "MAYO: EL TERREMOTO DE ORÁN DE 1790 Y EL LARGO VIAJE DE LOS DOCUMENTOS" [MAY: THE ORAN EARTHQUAKE OF 1790 AND THE LONG JOURNEY OF THE DOCUMENTS]. Ayuntamiento de Elche (in Spanish). 2 May 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ Paco Almanzor (9 October 2016). "El terremoto de Orán de octubre de 1790" [The Oran earthquake of October 1790]. La Qverna. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "EL TERREMOTO DE ORÁN DE 1790 Y EL FIN DE LA PRESENCIA ESPAÑOLA EN ARGELIA" [THE ORAN EARTHQUAKE OF 1790 AND THE END OF THE SPANISH PRESENCE IN ALGERIA.]. HISTORIAS DE ALBORÁN. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "Tsunami Event Information Tsunami Event Information". ngdc.noaa.gov. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- S2CID 53588905.)
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ISSN 1988-2440.
- ^ S2CID 134205450.
- U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- S2CID 219506914.