Magnitude 5 earthquake shakes Granada, emergency plan activated, no serious injuries reported

The earthquake

A magnitude 5 earthquake struck the southern Spanish city of Granada in the early hours of Saturday, 15 August, jolting residents awake and prompting authorities to activate an earthquake emergency plan. The epicenter was located in Alhendín, a southern suburb of Granada, at a depth of 10 kilometers. The tremor occurred at 1:04 AM local time, according to the Spanish emergency service 112, which registered more than 200 calls in the aftermath. Aftershocks followed within minutes, with the Spanish IGN institute recording a magnitude 2.6 tremor shortly after the main quake. Many residents fled their homes in fear and spent part of the night outdoors, with some requiring treatment for anxiety attacks.

Magnitude readings

Different seismic agencies reported slightly different magnitudes for the event. The US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a magnitude of 5.2, Spain's National Geographic Institute (IGN) reported 5.0, and the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) measured 4.9. Such limited variation in initial readings is common between agencies. The USGS placed the epicenter near the town of Otura, on the southern edge of Granada, while other sources identified Alhendín as the epicenter location.

Damage and rescue operations

The regional government reported damage to buildings and cars, with debris visible on streets and damaged vehicles shown in TVE television footage. Rock falls were also reported in the affected area. Andalusian rescue services freed several people from damaged buildings, turning the night into a rapid deployment for emergency teams. The city of Granada, home to 235,000 inhabitants, reported no deaths or serious injuries, though the regional government initially stated that no information about possible injuries was yet available. According to the city government, no severe or widespread structural damage was found, with damage largely limited to non-load-bearing building elements. One resident told Spanish broadcaster RTVE that she ran out of the house in the dark and only took her phone with her.

Official response

The Andalusian regional government activated an earthquake emergency plan and declared a state of emergency early on, according to Vice President Antonio Sanz Cabello, who announced the measures on the platform X. He appealed to the population to stay calm and avoid unnecessary entry to or exit from buildings. The regional government moved quickly to establish crisis mode in the early hours after the quake.

If you are in Granada, felt the earthquake, are doing well and your house has no damage, stay calm and avoid unnecessarily entering and leaving buildings.

Juanma Moreno, President of the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, also took to X to warn that damaged facades and building parts could still come loose. People on the streets were advised to stay away from facades, cornices, balconies, walls and other elements that could fall.

Wider impact

The tremor was felt across much of Andalusia, according to media reports, including the province of Jaén, the coasts of Málaga and Almería, and as far as Córdoba. Granada is a popular tourist destination, famous for the medieval Alhambra fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site and an outstanding example of Moorish architecture.