Granada and its metropolitan area have accumulated 40 earthquakes during the early hours of this Saturday, tremors that have been added to the intensity 5 with epicenter in Alhendín that was recorded at 1:04 a.m., and that have caused material damage that will be analyzed on a day marked by storms. It is the largest earthquake recorded in the area since 1955.
The National Geographic Institute (IGN) has registered 93 aftershocks, 13 of them felt by the population, after the main one in Alhendín, an earthquake that has caused more than 200 emergency calls and material damage, but no injuries.
The Minister of the Presidency, Health and Emergencies of the Junta de Andalucía, Antonio Sanz, has ruled out serious structural and material damage and has emphasized that no serious personal injuries have been recorded. The health incidents attended to have been due to anxiety attacks and minor trauma due to falls. As for material damage, these are related to formwork, false ceilings, cornices and glass, among others.
In statements to the media, the also first vice president of the Board has confirmed that the advisory committee for seismic risks will remain activated as experts confirm that it is likely that aftershocks will occur in the coming hours and days, however, of lower intensity.
For his part, the president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, asked this Saturday for "calm" and "great care" after a night of "shock and concern" due to the earthquake.
"Night of shock and concern in Granada with a magnitude 5 earthquake that has caused some material damage and has been felt in several provinces. Calm, be very careful with any cornice or damaged facade that can still come off and, please, let's follow all the recommendations. Very pending," he noted through his profile in 'X'.
Among the affected municipalities, in the case of La Zubia, the damage to municipal buildings and homes is being assessed; in Gójar, the town church and the Town Hall are being inspected; and in Granada capital, the damage is concentrated in El Zaidín, where municipal technicians will review the damage to homes.
EMERGENCY LEVEL 1
The Junta de Andalucía has activated the emergency phase, operational situation 1, of the Seismic Risk Plan due to the 5-magnitude earthquake with its epicenter in Alhendín (Granada) recorded in the early hours of this Saturday.
The Minister of the Presidency, Health and Emergencies, Antonio Sanz, has announced that this phase is activated due to the magnitude of the earthquake.
The regional government advises the population to remain calm and avoid entering and leaving buildings, in addition to other preventive measures such as staying away from facades, cornices, balconies or walls due to the possibility of landslides occurring.
The IGN records the different points from which the population has felt the effects of the earthquake thanks to the reports of neighbors who have reported falling objects, movement of furniture or shaking of doors and windows from almost all the municipalities of Granada and its metropolitan area.
This earthquake has also been felt in towns in the north of the province such as Huéscar; in Almuñécar, Salobreña and Motril, on the coast; in the west and in the Alpujarra.
In addition, they have also noticed the tremor in towns in Jaén such as Alcalá la Real, Linares or Jódar; in towns on the coast of Almería such as the capital, Roquetas, El Ejido or Adra, and on the coast of Málaga, from Fuengirola or Torremolinos to Vélez, in addition to Córdoba capital.
According to the IGN, the tremor has also been felt, although at a lower intensity, in points of Puertollano, Ciudad Real, Albacete or even Madrid.
Six minutes later, the earthquake with its epicenter in Alhendín was joined by a 2.6 magnitude earthquake with its epicenter one kilometer deep in Gójar.
During Friday, three other earthquakes were recorded in the same area of the metropolitan area of Granada, of lesser magnitude but which have also alerted the population.
Armilla opens parks and a sports complex to neighbors scared by the earthquake
Many neighbors took to the streets for fear of being trapped in their apartments, especially those who live in taller buildings. The night has been long throughout the province of Granada and in some towns such as Armilla, spaces have even been set up to welcome all those who did not want to return to their homes. In addition to the tremors, strong storms have also appeared to give the atmosphere some more drama. "After the eclipse, this is starting to look a lot like the end of the world," says Francisco, a neighbor of Huétor Vega, laughing.
Neighbors who were afraid to return to their homes have gathered there and have gathered in squares and open spaces, a scene that has been repeated in other municipalities in the metropolitan area of Granada and in the capital.
On the other hand, the Granada City Council has reported in a statement that no serious damage or widespread damage has been reported. The incidents reported so far correspond mainly to light damage to non-structural elements, which, in principle, do not pose a risk to the physical integrity of people, according to the Granada City Council.
Some major damage has also been reported that is being evaluated, especially in vulnerable buildings or those that had previous pathologies, although there are no indications that allow us to speak of widespread structural damage.
Damage inspections
The Granada City Council reported this Saturday that inspection requests as a result of the earthquake are concentrated mainly in the southern area of the capital and in the municipalities of Ogíjares, La Zubia and Armilla.
The incidents reported so far correspond "mainly" to "light" damage to non-structural elements, which, "in principle, do not pose a risk to the physical integrity of people," as highlighted in a press release.
Likewise, there have been reports of "some major damage" that is being evaluated, especially in "vulnerable buildings or those that had previous pathologies." "At this time, there are no indications that allow us to speak of widespread structural damage." The seismic movements recorded this Saturday and in the previous days "seem to be preliminarily related to the same fault zone."
Given the possibility of new earthquakes, Civil Protection has recalled that "it is not possible to make a deterministic prediction of these phenomena." Therefore, it should not be assumed that another earthquake will occur, although the occurrence of aftershocks or other seismic movements cannot be ruled out either.
Civil Protection recommends that citizens remain calm and act with serenity; follow official self-protection recommendations; avoid disseminating unverified information; and consult exclusively official sources and verified information channels, especially those of the Granada City Council and the Local Civil Protection Service.
