Three Lightly Injured as New Quake Hits Spain's Granada

Granada, Spain, was rattled by a magnitude-4.8 earthquake on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, resulting in three light injuries and damage to buildings. The tremor occurred around 10:38 AM local time, with its epicenter located in Alhendin, a town approximately 10 kilometers south of Granada, according to the National Geographical Institute.

This was the most significant in a series of earthquakes to hit the region that morning, prompting residents to evacuate buildings and seek safety in the streets. Officials reported that three individuals sustained minor injuries, including a young girl who required hospitalization. Emergency services received over 500 calls reporting cracked walls, falling debris, and other earthquake-related incidents, with many calls related to anxiety attacks.

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Everything came crashing down. It was terrifying.

Social media footage depicted streets strewn with debris and damaged vehicles in the popular tourist city. One resident described the experience as "terrifying," recounting how "everything came crashing down" while she was inside a supermarket. Firefighters were reported to be working continuously in affected neighborhoods, dealing with issues such as falling chimneys.

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In addition to cracks and other damage, chimneys are falling, causing more serious damage.

Concerns were also raised about the structural integrity of historical sites. Conservation teams were assessing Granada's Alhambra palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Alcazaba, the fortress section of the Alhambra, was evacuated, and access to the Nasrid Palaces was temporarily suspended. In response to the seismic activity, Granada's city hall closed all municipal buildings except those providing essential services as a precautionary measure. The mayor urged residents to remain calm and avoid going outside or standing near buildings during any aftershocks.

The earthquake follows a magnitude-5.0 tremor that occurred early Saturday morning, which caused damage but no reported injuries, likely due to the lower number of people active at that hour.

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I know the anguish we experienced this morning, especially among our elderly people and young children, who had never experienced a situation like this before.