A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck Granada again on Tuesday. Eyewitnesses reported a huge bang, shaking buildings and objects falling to the ground. Panic broke out in a supermarket, while people rushed out of cafés and into the streets. Hospitals and the famous Alhambra also took precautionary measures in response to the ongoing tremors.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
by Marlon Gallego Bosbach
Granada is showing no signs of settling. After the powerful earthquake that struck the region last weekend, another strong tremor hit on Tuesday. According to Spain’s National Geographic Institute (IGN), the strongest quake had a magnitude of Mw 4.8 and occurred at 10:37 a.m. local time. The epicentre was located in the Gójar and Alhendín area, south of Granada. The earthquake was very shallow, which is why it was clearly felt across a wide area.
What people experienced on the ground shows just how intensely an earthquake of this magnitude can be felt.
“As if someone had thrown a bomb”
One resident described the moment the earthquake struck in stark terms. She said it felt as though someone had thrown a bomb. What frightened her most was the unusually loud noise. For several seconds, she said, everything around her seemed to shake, accompanied by a deep rumbling sound.
The initial tremor lasted only a few seconds, but it was more than enough to leave those affected deeply unsettled. Further tremors followed shortly afterwards. For many residents, this marked the beginning of an anxious period, as the concern was not only how powerful the first earthquake had been, but whether more tremors would follow immediately.
Panic breaks out in a supermarket
The earthquake was particularly alarming for people who were inside shops when the tremor struck. One young woman described how shelves and products suddenly began to shake. Numerous items fell to the floor as startled customers looked around in confusion. The situation became particularly chaotic in the drinks section.
People abandoned their shopping trolleys and rushed out of the supermarket. Some screamed in fear. The violent shaking of the building immediately triggered panic among many customers.
Although a magnitude 4.8 earthquake is not comparable to Spain’s most devastating earthquakes, the scene illustrates just how strongly shallow tremors can be felt in densely populated areas.
Café wird innerhalb von Sekunden geräumt
Similar scenes unfolded in a café. People were having breakfast when a loud noise suddenly rang out and the ground began to shake. Lamps and other objects swayed, while cups and drinks fell to the floor. Within seconds, customers had rushed out of the café.
Older people and families with children were particularly alarmed. Some people ran outside without taking any personal belongings with them. For many of those affected, it was not just the shaking itself that was frightening. The sound of the earthquake also heightened the sense that an immediate danger was unfolding.
“The ground lifted me off my feet”
The tremor was also strongly felt at Café Fútbol in central Granada. The owner described the sensation as though the ground had literally lifted him off his feet. While the café initially appeared to have escaped any major damage, customers were visibly shaken. Many people did not want to remain indoors after the earthquake and headed outside.
Such personal accounts show how differently the same earthquake can be experienced. While some people noticed only a brief swaying motion, others felt as though the entire building was moving.
Particularly strong in Gójar
The tremor was felt even more intensely near the epicentre. Gójar, south of Granada, was among the worst-affected areas. Residents reported powerful shaking inside their homes, while cracks and damage to façades were observed on some buildings. Chimneys and other parts of buildings were also damaged.
The problem was that the situation did not end with the first strong tremor. Further earthquakes followed within a short period. The IGN recorded additional tremors with magnitudes of 3.9, 4.2 and 4.0, among others.
More than 400 earthquakes in just a few days
Tuesday’s earthquake is part of a larger seismic sequence that has affected the region since 14 August. According to the latest figures from the IGN, 432 earthquakes have now been recorded. The vast majority were weak, with magnitudes below 2. However, nine events had a magnitude of at least 3, while 45 earthquakes were felt by the public.
The two strongest events each reached Mw 4.8 – one on 14 August and the second on Tuesday. The earthquakes have been concentrated in the area around Alhendín, Gójar and La Zubia, just a few kilometres south of Granada.
Tremors felt in more than 500 locations
However, the effects were not confined to the immediate vicinity of the epicentre. According to the IGN, both of the strongest earthquakes were felt in more than 500 towns and villages. The areas mainly affected were central and eastern Andalusia, as well as parts of the Murcia region and southern Castilla-La Mancha.
This highlighted the extent of the tremors beyond the wider Granada area.
Three people lightly injured
The earthquake sequence did not leave the region without consequences. According to the Andalusian authorities, three people sustained minor injuries. One of them was a minor who was taken to hospital as a precaution.
Damage to buildings, vehicles and façades was also reported. Falling building materials and debris created additional hazards in several locations. So far, the IGN has mainly reported non-structural damage and fallen objects. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed.
Hospitals also respond to the earthquakes
The ongoing tremors also caused concern at hospitals in Granada. At the two major public hospitals, Virgen de las Nieves and Clínico San Cecilio, non-urgent activities were temporarily suspended, while emergency medical care continued as normal.
A doctor described how she herself was initially caught off guard by the earthquake while in a café before heading to work at the hospital. There, she encountered people experiencing severe anxiety and, in some cases, panic attacks. The repeated tremors have been particularly distressing for many people.
Alhambra evacuated as a precaution
One of Spain’s most important landmarks was also affected by the events. Following the latest earthquake, the Nasrid Palaces and the Alcazaba at the Alhambra were evacuated as a precaution. Visitors were moved out of the affected areas while experts inspected the historic buildings for possible damage.
Other public and cultural facilities in Granada were also temporarily closed as a precaution. The measures highlight how seriously the authorities are taking the repeated tremors, particularly when it comes to historic buildings, which can be especially vulnerable to strong vibrations.
Granada remains on alert
The authorities have since introduced additional safety measures while urging the public to remain calm and follow official guidance.
Nevertheless, the situation remains unusual for people in Granada. Repeatedly felt tremors, damaged buildings and uncertainty over when the next earthquake might strike have left many residents particularly alert.
One thing is certain: the ground beneath Granada remains in motion. Following two magnitude 4.8 earthquakes within just a few days and hundreds of other recorded tremors, seismic activity is likely to remain a concern across the Andalusian province in the days ahead.
