A rare 5.0-magnitude Granada earthquake shook residents awake early Saturday, damaging buildings and sending panic through the popular Spanish tourist city.
The earthquake struck shortly after 1am, with its epicentre in Alhendin, about 10 kilometres south of Granada, Spain’s National Geographical Institute said.
Emergency services reported cracks in buildings, while ledges, rubble and sections of walls fell in some areas.
Despite the damage, officials confirmed that there were no deaths, injuries or serious structural damage.
Antonio Sanz, Andalusia’s top emergencies official, said firefighters received around 300 calls and carried out 85 interventions, mainly in southern Granada and the surrounding metropolitan area.
“There is no serious structural damage, no serious material damage, and there are no casualties,” Sanz said.
He also confirmed that the Alhambra palace, Granada’s UNESCO-listed landmark and former seat of Spain’s last Muslim kingdom, escaped damage.
“We must stay on our guard,” Sanz said, as officials continued inspecting buildings and warned that aftershocks were possible.
The earthquake was reportedly the strongest of its magnitude to hit Andalusia since 1955.
An AFP journalist in Granada saw broken roof tiles scattered outside a church, while tourists stopped to photograph the cordoned-off site.
Spanish media also showed rubble covering streets and cars with smashed windows.
Residents described being terrified by the sudden overnight shaking.
“We really felt the shaking; it was so strong that it woke us up,” Marta Mayorga Fernandez told Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE from nearby Huetor Vega.
“We were here at home panicking a little, in our bodies, my arms were still shaking,” she said.
Authorities have established a telephone support line to help residents experiencing anxiety following the Granada earthquake.
Officials remain on alert as inspections continue across the city and surrounding areas.
