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🇫🇷 France /Disasters & Emergencies

Rare magnitude 5 earthquake shakes Granada, Spain, causing isolated damage

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A magnitude 5 earthquake struck the southern Spanish city of Granada early Saturday, causing isolated damage but no serious injuries or structural collapses.
  • Firefighters responded to 300 calls and conducted 85 interventions, primarily in the southern outskirts of the city.
  • While minor earthquakes are common in Andalusia, a magnitude 5 tremor is rare, with the last one of similar intensity occurring in 1955.

Granada, a major tourist destination in southern Spain, was shaken by a rare magnitude 5 earthquake that struck shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday. The tremor, with its epicenter near Alhendin, about 10 kilometers south of the city, caused isolated damage to buildings but no reported fatalities or major structural collapses.

No victims or serious and widespread structural damage have been reported. Isolated damage is being assessed, particularly in vulnerable buildings.

— Marifran CarazoGranada's mayor on X, detailing the initial impact of the earthquake.

Emergency services received 300 calls and carried out 85 interventions, mostly in the southern parts of Granada and its surrounding areas. The regional head of emergency services, Antonio Sanz, confirmed that "there are no serious structural damages, no significant material damage, and no victims." He also noted that the famed Alhambra palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was unaffected.

Despite the lack of severe damage, officials urged vigilance as inspections of buildings were ongoing and aftershocks remained possible. Sanz recalled that the last earthquake of this magnitude in Andalusia occurred in 1955, highlighting the rarity of such an event. Residents described feeling strong tremors that woke them up, with one local, Marta Mayorga Fernandez, telling RTVE that her "arms are still trembling" from the experience.

There are no serious structural damages, no significant material damage, and no victims.

— Antonio SanzRegional head of emergency services, providing an update on the earthquake's impact.

While Andalusia experiences frequent minor earthquakes, those exceeding magnitude 5 are uncommon. The city, renowned for its Islamic medieval architecture, is now assessing the extent of the isolated damages, with emergency lines set up to manage public anxiety.

We really felt the tremors, they were so strong they woke us up. We were here, at home, a bit panicked. Physically, my arms are still trembling.

— Marta Mayorga FernandezA resident describing her experience of the earthquake to RTVE.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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