Earthquakes in the Almería region are associated with shallow faulting on northwest–southeast and north–south trending faults. Offshore thrust faulting was likely associated with the 1522 event. Prior to the mainshock in August, a strong earthquake was also reported in the region on January 13, 1804. It had an approximate epicenter south–southwest of Motril. The town sustained damage that corresponded to VII–VIII on the EMS scale. It had a moment magnitude estimated to be 6.3. Based on the macroseismic data available, the approximate epicenter would likely be in the Alboran Sea or near the heavily damaged town of Dalías. The offshore epicenter location was given as 36.6°N, 2.8°W, while the onshore location was 36.80°N, 2.85°W, with moment magnitudes of 6.2 and 6.4, respectively.
