Tremor Epicenter Near Historic Granada

The epicenter of the tremor was located about 10km (six miles) south of Granada, a historic city known for its medieval Islamic architecture, the quake occurred at 10:37 local time (08:37 GMT) near the town of Alhendín, the IGN reported.

Residents rushed out of their homes into the streets, fearing strong aftershocks; Several vehicles were damaged by falling debris, and some museums, administrative buildings, and sports centers were forced to close in the aftermath.

Shallow Tremor Part of Recent Seismic Activity

The IGN described the tremor as one of a series of very shallow earthquakes in the area that started last Friday, these tremors were widely felt by locals and marked a period of increased seismic activity in the region.

Alfonso Malpica, a resident of Granada, told El País newspaper that the earthquake was stronger than the ones he was used to, he said he felt his ground floor flat shaking during the tremor.

Cristina Ruiz Lopez, a lab worker who was at a supermarket in Granada, described the experience as terrifying — she said everything came crashing down during the quake, according to AFP news agency.

Granada’s famous Alhambra palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was forced to close for the afternoon due to the tremor, the palace attracts millions of tourists from around the world each year.

Transport Disruptions and Safety Measures

Granada’s metro network announced it was reducing the speed of its trains to 30km/h (19mph) for safety reasons, which may cause delays for commuters; the decision was made in response to the seismic activity and to ensure the safety of passengers and infrastructure.