Skip to main content

The Djidjelli (Algeria) earthquakes of 21 and 22 August 1856 (I0 VIII, IX) and related tsunami effects Revisited

Journal of Seismology volume 15, pages 105–129 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

New historical data from primary sources, allow us to revisit the Djidjelli earthquakes of 21 and 22 August 1856 (I0 VIII, IX respectively). These two large seismic events are among the most significant events that have affected the North African coast. They have caused extensive damage and generated a tsunami that propagated at several harbours of the western Mediterranean Sea. The effects of each earthquake are analysed from all documentary source materials, emphasising the confrontation of observations and data for an accurate reconstruction of the macroseismic field of both events. The method used provides a more precise way to determine the characteristics of the Djidjelli earthquakes.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Al Djillali A (1995) Tarikh El Djazair el Aam (the General History of Algeria), 7th edn. OPU, Alger

    Google Scholar 

  • Alasset PJ, Hébert H, Maouche S, Calbini V, Meghraoui M (2006) The tsunami induced by the 2003 Zemmouri earthquake (Mw = 6.9, Algeria): modelling and results. Geophys J Int 166:213–226. doi:10.1111/j.1365-246X.2006.02912.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amato A, Azzara R, Chiarabba C, Cimini GB, Cocco M, Di Bona M, Margheriti L, Mazza S, Mele F, Selvaggi G, Basili A, Boschi E, Courboulex F, Deschamps A, Gaffet S, Bittarelli G, Chiaraluce L, Piccinini D, Ripepe M (1998) The 1997 Umbria-Marche, Italy, earthquake sequence: a first look at the main shocks and aftershocks. Geophys Res Lett 25(15):2861–2864

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ambraseys NN (1982) The seismicity of North Africa: the earthquake of 1856 at Jijeli, Algeria. Boll Geofis Teor Appl XXIV(93):31–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous(1856a) Tremblement de terre en Algérie. L’Illustration 6 September 145–146

  • Anonymous (1856b) Nouvelles et faits divers. Cosmos 9:320–321, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous (1857) Tremblement de terre en Algérie. Bulletin de l’Algérie, année 1856:378–379, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Aucapitaine M (1856) Note sur le tremblement de terre ressenti en Algérie du 21 au 25 août 1856. Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences Paris, tome XLIII:765

  • Ayadi A, Maouche S, Harbi A, Meghraoui M, Beldjoudi H, Oussadou F, Mahsas A et al (2003) Strong Algerian earthquake strikes near Capital City. Eos Trans AGU 84(50):561–568

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baratta M (1901) I terremoti d’Italia. Bocca, Torino

    Google Scholar 

  • Beldjoudi H, Guemache MA, Kherroubi A, Semmane F, Yelles-Chaouche AK, Djellit H, Amrani A, Haned A (2009) The Lâalam (Béjaïa, North-East Algeria) moderate earthquake (Mw = 5.2) on March 20, 2006. Pure Apply Geophys 166:623–640. doi:10.1007/s00024-009-0462-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benhallou H (1985) Les Catastrophes Séismiques de la Région d’Echéliff dans le contexte de la Séismicité Historique de l’Algérie. Thesis, University of Algiers

  • Benouar D (1994) Materials for the investigation of the seismicity of Algeria and adjacent regions during the twentieth century. Ann Geofis XXXVII 4:459–860

    Google Scholar 

  • Berard V (1861) Indicateur de l’Algérie. Alger Editions

  • Bezzeghoud M, Ayadi A, Sebaï A, Aït Messaoud M, Mokrane A, Benhallou H (1996) Seismicity of Algeria between 1365 and 1989: map of Maximum Observed Intensities (MOI). Avances en Geofisica y Geodesia, Ministerio de Obras Publicas, Transportes y Media Ambiente, vol. I. Pub. De IGN, Madrid, pp 107–114

  • Bouhadad Y, Nour A, Laouami N, Belhaï D (2003) The Beni Ourtilane Tachaouaft fault and seismotectonic aspect of the Babors region (NE Algeria). J Seismol 7:79–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bounif A, Haessler H, Meghraoui M (1987) The Constantine (Northeast Algeria) earthquake of October 27, 1985: surface ruptures and aftershock study. Earth Planet Sci Lett 85:451–460

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chesneau M (1892) Note sur les tremblements de terre en Algérie. Annales des Mines, Neuvième série, tome I:5–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Cecić I, Musson RMW (2004) Macroseismic surveys in theory and practice. Nat Hazards 31:39–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cecić I, Musson RMW, Stucchi M (1996) Do seismologists agree upon epicentre determination from macroseismic data? A survey of ESC Working Group Macroseismology. Annali di Geophysica XXXIV:1013–1027

    Google Scholar 

  • Chimera G, Aoudia A, Sarao A, Panza GF (2003) Active tectonics in Central Italy: constraints from surface wave tomogrpahy and source moment tensor inversion. Phys Earth Planet Inter 138:241–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Senarmont H (1857) Analyse des documents recueillis sur les tremblements de terre ressentis en Algérie du 21 aout au 15 Octobre 1856. CRAS 44:586–594

    Google Scholar 

  • Feraud LC (1870) Histoire des villes de la province de Constantine, Gigelli. Constantine Editions

  • Feraud LC (1875) Documents pour servir à l’histoire de Philippeville, Revue Africaine

  • Foreign Office Records (1857) Consular Archives 1136, Algiers:1856–7, Embassy Archives 248, 1 Algiers. Public Records Office

  • Fournet and Prost (1856) Tremblement de terre. Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences 43:552

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaultier de Claubry (1856) Sur les effets du tremblement de terre des 21 et 22 août dans certaines parties de l’Algérie. Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences 43:589–590

    Google Scholar 

  • Grünthal G (2001) L’échelle Macrosismique Européenne 1998. Cahiers du Centre Européen de Géodynamique et de Séismologie 19:103

    Google Scholar 

  • Harbi A, Maouche S (2009) Les principaux séismes du Nord-Est de l’Algérie. Mémoires du Service Géologique National, Alger, N° 16, 81 pp

  • Harbi A, Benouar D, Benhallou H (2003) Re-appraisal of seismicity and seismotectonics in the north-eastern Algeria Part I: review of historical seismicity. J Seismol 7:115–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harbi A, Maouche S, Vaccari F, Aoudia A, Oussadou F, Panza GF, Benouar D (2007) Seismicity, seismic input and site effects in the Sahel-Algiers Region (North Algeria). Soil Dyn Earthqu Eng 27(5):427–447

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harbi A, Peresan A, Panza GF (2010) Seismicity of Eastern Algeria: a revised and extended earthquake catalogue. Nat Hazards 54:724–747. doi:10.1007/s11069-009-9497-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kluge E (1858) Die Reaktionen des Erdinnen gegen die Erboderflache in den Jahren 1855 und 1856. Petermanns Geogr Mitt 5:238

    Google Scholar 

  • Larara M, Nedjari A, Maouche S, Meghraoui M (2009) Evidence de paleotsunamis le long de la côte algérienne à Kaddous (Boumerdes) et Jijel. Abstracts, réunion annuelle de la Société Géologique Algérienne, FSTGAT-USTHB Alger

  • Maouche S, Harbi A, Meghraoui M (2008) Attenuation of intensity for the Zemmouri earthquake of 21 May 2003 (Mw 6.8): insights for the seismic hazard and historical earthquake sources in northern Algeria. In: Fréchet J, Meghraoui M, Stuchi M (eds) Historical seismology, interdisciplinary studies of past an recent earthquakes. Springer, New York, pp 327–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Meghraoui M, Harbi A, Belabbes S, Maouche S (2008) Characteristics of the tsunamigenic seismic sources in Algeria: data and modeling. Abstracts of the ESC 31st General Assembly, Crete (Greece), p 268

  • Mokrane A, Ait Messaoud A, Sebai A, Ayadi A (1994) Les séismes en Algérie de 1365 à 1992. Publication du Centre de Recherche en Astronomie, Astrophysique et Géophysique, Département: Etudes et Surveillance Sismique, ESS, C.R.A.A.G, Alger-Bouzaréah, 277 pp

  • Oussadou F (2002) Contribution à la sismotectonique de l’Algérie occidentale par la sismicité, les mécanismes au foyer, les mesures de déformation et la tectonique générale. Alger, FSTGAT/USTHB: Magister thesis, 133 pp

  • Ouyed M, Meghraoui M, Cisternas A, Fréchet J, Gaulon R, Hatzfeld D, Philip H (1981) Seismotectonics of the El Asnam earthquake. Nature 292:26–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paulin V (1856) Le tremblement de terre de Djidjelli Afrique. L’Illustration, 1856, p 221

  • Perrey A (1859) Note sur les tremblements de terre en 1856 avec suppléments pour les années antérieures 1843–1845. Mem Cour Et Mem Acad R Belgique 8:3–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Perrey A (1862) Note sur les tremblements de terre en 1860 avec suppléments pour les années antérieures 1844. Mem Cour Bruxelles 14(3):3–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Roger J, Hébert H (2008) The 1856 Djijelli (Algeria) earthquake and tsunami: source parameters and implications for tsunami hazard in the Balearic Islands. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 8:721–731

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rothé JP (1950) Les séismes de Kherrata et la séismicité de l’Algérie. Bull. Serv. Cart. Geol. Algérie, 4 ème série, Géophysique, N. 3, 40 pp

  • Roussel J (1973) Les zones actives et la fréquence des séismes en Algérie 1716–1970. Bull Soc Hist Nat Afr Nord 64(3):11–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudolf E (1887) Beiträge zur geophysik, Sttutgart, Über submarine Erdbeben und Eruptionen

  • Sebaï A, Bernard P (2008) Contribution à la connaissance de la sismicité d’Alger et de ses alentours au XVIIIe siècle, extraite des archives françaises. C. R. Geosciences 340:495–512

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schoenagel (1856) Effets des tremblements de terre sur les constructions en maçonnerie. Document du génie militaire de la direction de Constantine, place de Djidjelli

  • Theilen-Willige B (2006) Emergency planning in northern Algeria based on remote sensing data in respect to tsunami hazard preparedness. Sci Tsunami Hazards 25(1):13–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Wessel P, Smith HF (1998) New improved version of the Generic Mapping Tools Released. EOS Trans AGU 79:579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yelles-Chaouche A, Roger J, Déverchère J, Bracène R, Domzig A, Hébert H, Kherroubi A (2009) The 1856 tsunami of Djidjelli (Eastern Algeria): seismotectonics, modeling and hazard implications for the Algerian coast. Pure Appl Geophys 166:283–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre de Recherche en Astronomie, Astrophysique et Géophysique, BP 63, Bouzaréah, 16340, Algiers, Algeria

    Assia Harbi & Said Maouche

  2. Institut de Physique du Globe, UMR 7516, 5 rue R. Descartes, Strasbourg, France

    Mustapha Meghraoui

Authors
  1. Assia Harbi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mustapha Meghraoui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Said Maouche
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Assia Harbi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Harbi, A., Meghraoui, M. & Maouche, S. The Djidjelli (Algeria) earthquakes of 21 and 22 August 1856 (I0 VIII, IX) and related tsunami effects Revisited. J Seismol 15, 105–129 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-010-9212-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-010-9212-9

Keywords

  • Algeria
  • Historical seismology
  • Damage distribution
  • Intensity
  • Tsunami