Granada Shaken by 4.8‑Magnitude Earthquake: Minor Injuries, Structural Damage
At least three people were lightly injured and dozens of buildings suffered damage when a 4.8‑magnitude tremor struck the historic city of Granada in southern Spain.
The National Geographic Institute (IGN) said the epicentre was about 10 kilometres (six miles) south of Granada and the quake was recorded at a depth of under 10km. Residents were rushing to the streets as they feared strong aftershocks, and a number of vehicles were damaged by falling debris. Museums, administrative buildings, and sports centres were forced to close.
The quake followed a series of very shallow tremors that began last Friday and were widely felt across the region.
Alfonso Malpica, who lives on the ground floor of a flat in Granada, described the event as "stronger than the ones that happen from time to time, the ones we're used to". Another resident, Cristina Ruiz Lopez, a lab worker at a local supermarket, said the quake felt "terrifying" and that "everything came crashing down."
Alhambra palace administrators announced that the UNESCO World Heritage site would remain closed that afternoon, which may affect the millions of tourists who visit annually. Granada’s metro network reduced train speeds to 30km/h (19mph) for safety reasons, warning passengers that delays might occur.
