A 4.1 magnitude earthquake struck the Murcia region of southern Spain on 2 August, with the epicentre near the town of Librilla. The tremor was recorded by Spain's National Geographic Institute (IGN) at 11.59am and lasted for several seconds.
Emergency services in Murcia received more than 80 calls about the earthquake. The 112 Emergency Coordination Centre for the Region of Murcia wrote on X: "The 112 Emergency Coordination Centre for the Region of Murcia has received more than 80 calls (...) at various points in the region. So far, no personal or material damage has been reported."
The quake was centred in the town of Librilla at a depth of around three miles, with Murcia located about 18 miles away. It was felt in neighbouring areas including Alicante, a popular holiday destination for British tourists, as well as nearby Benidorm and Albacete.
Increased Seismic Activity
According to IGN, seven tremors occurred in the days before this earthquake, with 21 recorded over the past month. Despite this, the quake was the strongest in the past six months, surpassing a magnitude 2.3 tremor on June 3.
The event follows a 4.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Naples, Italy, on Friday, which damaged buildings and cars and left around 20 people injured.
Historic and Geological Context
In 2011, Spain suffered its worst earthquake in decades when a 5.2 magnitude tremor struck the town of Lorca, killing 10 people. Hundreds were evacuated, several buildings collapsed, and lines of cars were left crushed under rubble. A hospital was also evacuated.
Southern Spain is at a higher risk from earthquakes because Andalusia and Murcia lie on the northern margin of the collision zone between the Eurasian plate and the Nubian (African) plate, which is converging northward into Eurasia at approximately 4–5 mm per year. This convergence, which built the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and the Alps of central Europe in previous geological periods, is currently seen in southern Spain through the fault systems of the Betic Cordillera, the mountain belt running from the Gibraltar Arc through Malaga, Granada, Almeria, and Murcia to the Mediterranean coast.
