Lorraine Williamson
Granada has been hit by another magnitude 4.8 earthquake, followed by several significant aftershocks, as an unusual sequence of seismic activity continues across the province.
Three people have suffered minor injuries, and the emergency response in Granada has been raised to operational level 1 following Tuesday morning’s tremors.
The main earthquake struck at 10.37 am on Tuesday, 18 August, with its epicentre near Gójar, south of Granada city. Spain’s National Geographic Institute (IGN) recorded it at a shallow depth of around five kilometres.
It was widely felt across Granada and the metropolitan area. This prompted residents to leave buildings, and it generated numerous calls to the emergency services. Three people were injured, all described by the Junta de Andalucía as minor cases. However, one young girl was taken to the hospital.
Several substantial aftershocks followed during the morning. These included earthquakes reaching magnitudes of around 4.0 and 4.2, with epicentres around Gójar, Alhendín, and Churriana de la Vega.
The activity follows another magnitude 4.8 earthquake recorded in the same area on 14 August. This makes Tuesday’s tremor the second event of that magnitude within days.
Hundreds of earthquakes recorded around Granada
The IGN says the continuing activity forms part of a shallow seismic sequence concentrated around Alhendín, Gójar, and La Zubia, a few kilometres south of Granada city.
By Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of earthquakes had been detected since the sequence began on 14 August. Dozens have been strong enough to be felt by residents.
The two magnitude 4.8 events have been felt across a particularly wide area, extending well beyond Granada province.
The IGN has reinforced monitoring in the epicentral area with portable seismic equipment as specialists continue analysing the sequence.
Alhambra visitors evacuated as precaution
The tremors also affected one of Spain’s most visited monuments.
Visitors were temporarily evacuated from the Nasrid Palaces and Alcazaba at the Alhambra following Tuesday’s earthquakes while precautionary inspections were carried out. Access restrictions were introduced as staff assessed whether the shaking had caused damage.
Elsewhere in Granada, reports included falling masonry and other non-structural damage. Emergency teams and local authorities have been inspecting affected buildings.
Granada City Council raised the city’s response to emergency operational level 1, allowing emergency resources to be coordinated as authorities assess the consequences of the seismic activity.
Why does Granada experience earthquakes?
Granada is one of the most seismically active areas of mainland Spain.
Southern Spain lies close to the complex boundary between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Granada basin in particular regularly experiences earthquakes, most of which are small and cause little or no damage.
The province experienced a prolonged earthquake swarm in 2020 and 2021, when hundreds of tremors were recorded around the metropolitan area, and several stronger earthquakes caused minor damage.
The current sequence does not mean that a larger earthquake will necessarily follow. Earthquake sequences cannot be used to predict reliably whether or when a stronger event will occur.
Residents are advised to follow information issued by the IGN, emergency services and local authorities rather than unverified predictions circulating on social media.
The seismic sequence remains under close observation on Tuesday evening, with specialists continuing to analyse the succession of earthquakes south of Granada city.