The earthquake was registered at 7.13am in the Mediterranean, in the area of Cabo de Palos, about 70km from Almería
A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck parts of Malaga province in Spain earlier today, with tremors felt by residents this morning. The seismic event was recorded at 7.13am in the Mediterranean Sea near Cabo de Palos, roughly 70km from Almería.
The quake was detected by Spain’s National Geographic Institute (IGN) and has impacted hundreds of households. It has affected various regions across southern and eastern Spain, including Granada, Málaga, Jaén, Murcia, Alicante, and Albacete.
The IGN reports that the earthquake originated 3km underground. Following the initial quake, a series of smaller aftershocks ranging from 1.9 to 3.4 on the Richter scale were also recorded in the vicinity.
So far, no damage has been reported, likely due to the epicentre’s distance from populated areas. Notably, Google’s automatic seismic alert system for Android devices issued warnings to users nearby.
One holidaymaker recounted her experience to El País, saying: “I was sleeping, and the whole house shook for a few seconds.”, reports the Liverpool Echo.
A tourist recalled the moment the earthquake hit her home, telling El País: “I was sleeping, and the whole house shook for a few seconds.
“There was an incredible roar. It woke up my entire family and the neighbours in the complex.”
According to the team at VolcanoDiscovery, the impact was magnified by its shallow depth.
The website stated: “The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicentre than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would.”