A 4.1 magnitude earthquake shook a popular vacation spot for British tourists in Spain, prompting a flurry of calls to emergency services in Murcia. The seismic event, which occurred at 11:59 am as recorded by the National Geographic Institute (IGN), lasted for several seconds.
Following a recent 4.7 magnitude tremor in Naples, Italy, which resulted in building damages and injuries, today’s earthquake in Spain affected neighboring areas such as Alicante, a favored destination for British holidaymakers along with nearby Benidorm and Albacete.
The epicenter of the quake was located in the town of Librilla, approximately 3 miles deep, with Murcia situated about 18 miles away. Despite receiving over 80 calls, the 112 Emergency Coordination Centre for the Region of Murcia reported no personal or material damages.
Spain’s National Geographic Institute (IGN) noted an increase in seismic activity with seven tremors in recent days and a total of 21 over the past month. This latest earthquake, the strongest in six months, surpassed the one recorded on June 3 with a magnitude of 2.3.
In 2011, Spain experienced a significant earthquake in Lorca, resulting in 10 fatalities and numerous evacuations due to building collapses. Southern Spain, specifically Andalusia and Murcia, faces a higher earthquake risk due to their location on the northern margin of the collision zone between the Eurasian and Nubian plates.
The convergence of these plates has shaped the geological landscape of southern Spain, manifesting in fault systems like the Betic Cordillera that span from the Gibraltar Arc in the west to the Mediterranean coast through cities like Malaga, Granada, Almeria, and Murcia.