A 5.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Almería in southern Spain on Monday morning, shaking more than 50 towns and causing minor structural damage.
Spain’s National Geographic Institute recorded the tremor at 7:13 a.m., with an epicenter located in the Mediterranean Sea nearly two miles below the seabed. The impact was felt across seven provinces, including the popular tourist destination of Malaga, as well as in parts of North Africa.
Residents reported being jolted awake by the event. “I was sleeping, and the whole house shook for a few seconds,” a tourist in Agua Amarga told the newspaper El País. “There was an incredible roar. It woke up my entire family and our neighbours.”
While emergency services received 25 calls from the public, no injuries have been reported. However, the quake caused some structural damage, including a partial ceiling collapse at Almería’s airport and damage to the ceiling of a car showroom in Huercal de Almeria.
According to Spain’s National Geographic Institute (IGN), the earthquake registered as a IV or V on the European Macroseismic Scale, indicating it was “widely observed” to “strong.” Although its magnitude was greater than the 2011 Lorca earthquake that resulted in nine fatalities, its offshore location prevented significant destruction.
The seismic event follows a weekend of severe weather in Spain, which brought widespread flooding and thunderstorms. In a separate incident related to the storms, health officials evacuated 71 patients from a flooded hospital. Weather warnings remain active for 25 provinces as the country prepares for more severe storms.
The UK Foreign Office has not issued a travel warning but advises visitors to monitor updates from Spain’s meteorological office (AEMET) and follow the guidance of local authorities.
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