1522 Almería earthquake

Earthquake in Almeria, Spain April 2025 April 2025 1522 Almería earthquake Recuerdos y bellezas de España - bajo la real proteccion de la reina y el rey; Obra destinada á dar á conocer sus monumentos y antiguedades en láminas dibujadas del natural y litografiadas por F.J. (14582027259).jpg 1850 illustration of the 1522 earthquake Spain yes 22 September 1522 13:40 6.8–7.0 whttps://www.ign.es/web/ign/portal/terremotos-importantes Terremotos más importantes Spanish 22 February 2020 IGN 1.0 km mi onhttp://www.volcaneshistoricos.com/el-gran-terremoto-de-almeria-en-1522/ El Gran Terremoto de Almería en 1522 spanish Carlos Pegaso 22 February 2020 5 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20200927071318/http://www.volcaneshistoricos.com/el-gran-terremoto-de-almeria-en-1522/ 27 September 2020 Volcanes Históricos 36.59 N 2.39 W Almería, Spain 10 – XI 2,500 dead thumb|276px|Isoseismal map for the 1522 Almeria earthquake, intensity on the European macroseismic scale The 1522 Almería earthquake (es no Terremoto de Almería de 1522) was a major seismic event estimated to be 6.8–7.0 w yes that occurred on 22 September. The epicenter was in the capital of Almeria in the Andarax Valley es Valle del Andarax, near Alhama de Almería. It had a maximum felt intensity of X–XI (Extreme) on the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS), and killed about 2,500 people, making it among the most destructive seismic events in Spanish history. The city of Almería was destroyed, and there was serious destruction in 80 other towns. In Granada large cracks were observed in various walls and towers.Víctor Hernández Bru 1522: El año en el que Almería fue destruida por un gran terremoto https://www.ideal.es/almeria/almeria/1522-almeria-destruida-20170711115247-nt.html spanish 22 February 2020 11 July 2017 Ideal Some damage also occurred at the Alhambra, more than 100 kilometers away from the epicenter. Impact and casualties The earthquake devastated Almería city and numerous surrounding villages, causing approximately 1,000 fatalities according to official records, though some historical accounts suggest the death toll may have reached 2,500. The catastrophic damage included the destruction of Almería's castle, cathedral, convent, medina (old town), and harbour. Major structural damage was also reported in Granada, where the Alhambra palace was affected, as well as in the towns of Guadix, Baza, Ugíjar, and Almanzora. Secondary effects The earthquake triggered numerous landslides that blocked roads between Granada and Almería. Several springs experienced changes in their discharge rates, and the Río Andarax temporarily dried up. Historical evidence, including a contemporaneous German woodcut from 1523, suggests the earthquake may have caused flooding and tsunami-like waves that affected coastal areas, possibly contributing to the destruction of Almería's harbour. Geological context The earthquake probably occurred along the offshore section of the Carboneras Fault Zone (CFZ) in the Gulf of Almería. The CFZ is a major left-lateral strike-slip fault that extends at least 100 kilometres offshore and forms part of the Trans-Alborán Shear Zone in the western Mediterranean. This region marks the convergent boundary between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. High-resolution seafloor imaging has revealed evidence of relatively fresh fault escarpments, fissures, and seafloor ruptures along a segment of the CFZ in the Gulf of Almería. These features, along with signs of submarine landslides and mass wasting deposits, suggest a major offshore earthquake occurred in the area's recent geological history. Historical confusion Some historical accounts have confused this event with another earthquake that occurred on 22 October 1522 in Vila Franca do Campo on São Miguel Island in the Azores, leading to uncertainty about the exact epicentral area of the Almería earthquake. Significance for seismic hazard assessment The identification of this offshore fault rupture has important implications for seismic hazard assessment in the western Mediterranean region. Prior to recent marine surveys, no onshore surface ruptures associated with the 1522 earthquake had been found. The evidence of significant offshore faulting suggests that active submarine fault zones in the Alborán Sea may pose specific seismic and tsunami hazards for coastal communities throughout the region. See also 1804 Almería earthquake Carboneras Fault List of earthquakes in Spain References Reicherter Klaus Hübscher Christian Evidence for a seafloor rupture of the Carboneras Fault Zone (southern Spain): Relation to the 1522 Almería earthquake? Journal of Seismology 11 1 2007 10.1007/s10950-006-9024-0 15–26 2007JSeis..11...15R Category:Earthquakes in Spain Almería Category:History of Almería Category:1522 in Spain