Earthquake briefly closes historic Alhambra palace in Granada

Granada authorities closed the historic Alhambra palace on Tuesday as a precaution after a new earthquake caused minor damage and injured three people in the Spanish city. The 4.8 magnitude quake struck at 10:38 a.m. local time, with its epicenter in the town of Alhendin, about 10 kilometers south of Granada. The Alhambra, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a prominent example of medieval Islamic architecture, received approximately 2.7 million visitors last year. It was closed for the remainder of the day. The Andalusian emergency minister, Antonio Sanz, stated that initial assessments revealed no "major structural damage" to the palace or any "risk of collapse." However, he noted minor damage to "non-structural elements," including upper fortifications, plasterwork, and decorative features, in "limited areas." Sanz emphasized that while this "must be taken into account regarding visitor safety," it should "not be a cause for concern about our very rich heritage."

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must be taken into account regarding visitor safety, but it should not be a cause for concern about our very rich heritage.