Magnitude 4.8 earthquake hits Granada, Spain; parts of Alhambra closed

A magnitude 4.8 earthquake shook southern Spain's Granada region on Tuesday, injuring three people and causing damage to buildings. This tremor is the latest in a series of seismic activity that has rattled the area, with over 150 earthquakes recorded since mid-October.

The earthquake, which occurred at 10:37 a.m. local time, had a shallow epicenter northwest of Gójar, south of Granada. The proximity to the surface intensified the shaking felt in the city and surrounding areas. Authorities reported that three people sustained minor injuries, with one minor requiring hospitalization. Emergency services received over 500 calls reporting building cracks and falling debris.

Residents evacuated buildings, gathering in streets and squares as parts of building facades and roofs crumbled, damaging parked vehicles. The main shock was followed by four aftershocks within 20 minutes, and subsequent quakes of magnitudes 4.2 and 4.0 were also registered. As a precautionary measure, parts of the Alhambra palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site and major tourist attraction, were temporarily closed to visitors, including the Nasrid Palaces.