A 5-magnitude earthquake struck the Spanish city of Granada at around 1am local time, damaging homes and cars and sending panicking holidaymakers running from their hotels. The tremor, recorded by the National Geographic Institute, triggered more than 200 emergency calls.
Damage and Emergency Response
According to the institute, the main quake occurred at exactly 1.04am at a depth of 2km, followed by another at 10km depth, with coordinates 37.1147 degrees latitude and -3.6618 degrees longitude. The earthquake took place seven hours after an initial tremor of magnitude 3.7 with an epicentre in the town of La Zubia.
Antonio Sanz Cabello, vice-president of the Andalusian government, said in a post on X that authorities had declared an emergency. He said: "If you're in Granada, you've felt the earthquake, you're okay, and your home shows no damage, stay calm and avoid entering and exiting buildings unnecessarily. On the street, stay away from facades, cornices, balconies, walls, and other elements that could fall."
Seismic Activity and Monitoring
The National Geographic Institute recorded 40 tremors within Alhendín on Saturday morning. A level one emergency plan has been put in place by the regional government, meaning a specialised response has been organised to respond to incidents, assess damage, and continue monitoring seismic activity. It is the second level of four, with the maximum being for a national emergency. Under level one there is coordination between emergency services, but it does not mean the situation is out of control.
Political Reaction and Public Advice
María Jesús Montero, General Secretary of the PSOE party in Andalusia, urged people to take care. She wrote on X: "Take care following the 5-magnitude earthquake and the numerous tremors that have occurred in Granada, which have also been felt in other provinces. Our thoughts are with those affected and please, caution regarding the damage caused to buildings and streets."
