On the night from Sunday to Monday, the province of Almería in southern Spain was struck by a 4.3 magnitude earthquake. According to data from the National Geographic Institute, the epicenter of the tremors was located near the town of Tabernas. Although the phenomenon was felt in several provinces, including Granada and Murcia, no fatalities or serious material damage have been reported so far. The main shock was followed by a series of over a dozen aftershocks.
Strong Tremor Near Almería
A 4.3 magnitude event was recorded at 00:55 with its epicenter near Tabernas at a very shallow depth.
No Casualties or Damage
Initial analyses show no material damage or injuries, despite the wide perceptibility in Granada and Murcia.
Series of Aftershocks
Following the main earthquake, at least 14 aftershocks of lesser strength were recorded, monitored by the IGN.
On Monday, February 16, 2026, shortly before 1 a.m., southern Spain experienced a sudden seismic event. The National Geographic Institute (IGN) recorded a tremor with a magnitude of 4.3 on the Richter scale, whose epicenter was located in the municipality of Tabernas. The tremor was particularly noticeable due to its shallow nature—data indicates the hypocenter was at a depth of zero to six kilometers below ground level. This event stirred residents not only in the province of Almería but also in neighboring regions: Granada, Jaén, and Murcia. The Iberian Peninsula lies in the contact zone between the Eurasian and African tectonic plates, making southern Spain historically prone to frequent seismic activity, though rarely with catastrophic consequences.Following the main shock, which occurred at 00:55, at least 14 aftershocks with magnitudes ranging between 1.5 and 2.0 were recorded. Local emergency services are monitoring the situation in towns such as Roquetas de Mar, El Ejido, and Níjar. Although the earthquake caused anxiety among the population and was clearly felt in residential buildings, initial reports do not indicate any infrastructure damage or injuries to citizens. Experts in seismology emphasize that such shallow tremors can be felt much more strongly than deeper events of the same energy. The situation in the municipality of Tabernas, known for its unique desert landscape, remains under close surveillance by civil protection authorities. Local media report that this was one of the stronger tremors in this region in recent years. Residents are urged to remain calm and follow civil protection communications, even though the threat level has not been raised. Geophysicists are currently analyzing data to precisely determine the fault rupture mechanism that caused today's ground tremors in Andalusia.