Q&A: What we know about the earthquake in southern Spain

An earthquake struck off the coast of Murcia and Almería this morning at 7.13 am, according to data from Spain's National Geographic Institute (IGN).

Seismologists placed the epicentre at a depth of two kilometres and about 32 kilometres away from Níjar in Almería, in southeast Spain.

How big was the earthquake?

Initial reports this morning estimated the quake to be a magnitude of 5.5 or 6 on the Richter scale. Later on, however, Javier Fernández Fraile, a seismologist with the National Seismic Network, confirmed it was 5.4.

A 5.4 magnitude earthquake is considered moderate but strong enough for people to feel it, although damage to well-built buildings is not common.

Where in Spain was the earthquake felt?

According to IGN data, in 57 municipalities in Almería as well as in 21 in Granada, nine in Jaén and five in Málaga .

It has also been felt in the Levante area, in 27 municipalities in Murcia and seven in Alicante, as well as in Albacete, Ciudad Real, and even in the capital Madrid and and the north African Spanish enclave of Melilla.

Some locals interviewed in the Spanish press have said the tremors lasted "around 30 seconds", others have said the movement was not very violent but that it lasted "three to five minutes".

Many people also took to social media to voice their experiences. Inma R wrote on X: "I was having breakfast on the couch when suddenly the whole house and furniture started shaking, the couch swaying. It only took a few minutes, but it made me dizzy and this earthquake in Cartagena was so strong."

"Who needs an alarm when you have an earthquake?" another wrote jokingly.

Was anyone hurt or injured?

Andalusia and Murcia's 112 emergency services have reported dozens of calls due to the earthquake but have so far have not received any reports of injuries.

Was there any damage to buildings?

Again, the 112 service confirmed that no one has reported damage to personal property.

There was, however, slight damage to Almería Airport, where part of the cafeteria roof collapsed due to the aftershock around 9.55 am on Monday morning. No injuries were recorded and the airport is functioning as normal.

What should I do If I’m in an area affected by the earthquake?

Alerts were sent to the mobile phones of people in this area of Spain (Almería, Murcia and Granada), with a set of recommendations and instructions. This was in fact a Google alert and not one from the Spanish government, as the state-run ES-Alert did not send out a warning.

The alert included putting on shoes before moving around, even inside the home, and checking for the smell of gas. If you do smell gas, it is advisable to turn off the building's supply or evacuate if it is not possible to do so safely.

The message warned of the need to avoid damaged structures, check for cracks or signs of possible collapse, and avoid touching downed power lines or using damaged chimneys. In coastal areas, people were advised to move to higher ground after the quake due to the risk of a tsunami.

Is there a possibility of a tsunami with earthquakes like this?

Initially warnings were sent out in coastal areas as a precaution, but the tsunami warning has now been cancelled and it is no longer considered to be a threat by the authorities.

What is the likelihood of more aftershocks or another earthquake?

The IGN has recorded several new tremors in the area with magnitudes between 3.4 and 1.8. This means that there could be a few more. "Possible aftershocks are not ruled out”, according to Fernández.

The earthquake occurred in an area of high seismic activity, located on the border between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, so future earthquakes in the area can’t be ruled out.

There have been several earthquakes in the region throughout history. The worst one was in 1522 which was the most destructive ever recorded in Spain. The epicentre was in the Alpujarras in Granada, but around 80 percent of the homes Almería were also destroyed.

The areas with the highest seismic activity in the country is the Cordilleras Béticas region, located in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula. This area encompasses parts of Andalusia, Murcia, Valencia, as well as the provinces of Alicante, Almería, Cádiz, Granada, Málaga, and Murcia.

Nieves Sánchez, vice president of the Official College of Geologists, warns that Málaga and Granada are currently the areas at greatest seismic risk in Spain and does not rule out the possibility of a major earthquake occurring at any time.