The Instituto Geográfico Nacional recorded more than 20 earthquakes across Granada’s metropolitan area from midnight through early Sunday. The strongest tremor, a magnitude 3.1 quake with its epicenter in Armilla, was felt at 4:40 a.m. at a depth of 7 kilometers. The seismic activity followed a magnitude 4.8 earthquake in Alhendín the previous day, prompting heightened alert and emergency measures across the province.
Most of the recent tremors were shallow and noticeable to residents in Armilla, Ogíjares, Gójar, La Zubia, Churriana de la Vega and Alhendín. Magnitudes ranged from 1.5 to 3.1, and ten quakes were clearly felt by the population. Emergency line 112 Andalucía received numerous calls from affected towns, but authorities reported no injuries or other impressive harm.
Another impressive quake, measuring magnitude 2.8, struck Ogíjares at 6:27 a.m. Its effects were reported in several municipalities, including Alfacar, Maracena, Vegas del Genil, Cúllar Vega, Las Gabias, Alhendín, La Zubia, Cenes and Huétor Vega. The Junta de Andalucía kept the pre-emergency phase of its seismic risk plan active after the initial magnitude 5.0 event in Alhendín, as authorities prepared for further aftershocks.
Granada’s city council stepped up building inspections in response. More than 800 requests had been received, and firefighters had carried out 154 interventions. Preliminary assessments found that most buildings’ basic structures had withstood the tremors, with damage largely limited to non-structural elements. Mayor Marifrán Carazo urged calm and caution, saying widespread structural damage had not been detected. Several homes on Marqués de Mondéjar and Alhamar streets were evacuated on Saturday as a precaution.
Between 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on August 15, the city’s fire and rescue service handled around 400 calls and carried out 122 interventions involving unstable building elements. From Saturday afternoon until Sunday morning, firefighters responded to 150 requests and conducted 32 additional interventions. The work formed part of a broader effort to protect the public and address residents’ concerns after repeated tremors.
Regional authorities warned that further seismic activity was possible in the coming days or weeks. Juanma Moreno, president of the Junta de Andalucía, advised residents to remain vigilant and follow safety recommendations. He said that, despite the anxiety caused by the earthquakes, there had been no fatalities or major incidents. Technical teams continued to monitor building safety, with inspections guiding any further action.
Later reporting put the scale of the sequence in perspective: 7,435 earthquakes had been recorded since the major events of August 15 and 18. The initial magnitude 5.0 earthquake was centered in Alhendín on August 15 and was felt as far away as Murcia, Madrid and Extremadura. Subsequent tremors damaged buildings and the interiors of five churches in Granada. A later earthquake of about magnitude 4.8, followed by aftershocks reaching around 4.2, caused at least three minor injuries; Granada city council recorded 445 incidents linked to the August activity.
Inspections also continued well beyond the first emergency response. Granada municipal teams followed up on more than 1,804 buildings in the first days of the crisis, while more than 600 homes were inspected in Armilla. One prominent case, Edificio Mérida I, was evacuated because of structural damage. Jesús Galindo, professor of Geodynamics and director of the Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra at the Universidad de Granada, said the buildings’ performance showed that “earthquake-resistant construction standards are useful.” He urged continued prevention, particularly in Santa Adela in Granada’s Zaidín district, and called for checks on buildings, especially the fixings of parapets and external enclosures, as well as chimneys and other elements that could fall during tremors.
The seismic sequence continued into October. On October 18, the Instituto Geográfico Nacional recorded a magnitude 0.9 earthquake southeast of Armilla at 8:10 a.m., followed by a magnitude 1.9 tremor near Vegas del Genil at 8:38 and a magnitude 2.8 earthquake near Cájar at 8:41. The Vegas del Genil event was reported at a depth of about three kilometers; the Cájar quake was recorded at approximately zero-kilometer depth and reached maximum intensity III. The tremors were felt in Granada and surrounding municipalities, including Armilla, Alhendín, Cenes de la Vega, Churriana de la Vega, Cúllar Vega, Las Gabias, Gójar, Maracena and Ogíjares. Insured damage from the wider sequence was later put at more than €100 million by the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros.
The Junta de Andalucía later announced a large-scale earthquake simulation in Granada and its metropolitan area, selected after the August swarm and the magnitude 5-level tremors between August 15 and 18. The exercise is intended to test emergency coordination and public response, not to signal an imminent earthquake. The regional government also approved extraordinary assistance for repairs to municipal facilities damaged by the tremors, extending the response from emergency inspections to rehabilitation and preparedness.
Granada’s location on active tectonic faults means earthquakes are not uncommon. Civil Protection and the Instituto Geográfico Nacional have reiterated basic safety advice: avoid elevators, stay away from windows and lamps, and remain calm during tremors. If outside, move to open areas away from buildings and infrastructure; if inside, seek shelter under sturdy furniture or next to a load-bearing wall. Residents should cut off water, electricity and gas supplies if necessary, and use stairs rather than elevators during evacuations. Drivers should stop in a safe place, turn on hazard lights and stay inside their vehicles until the shaking stops.
Spain’s varied geography makes it susceptible to different natural hazards. While Granada faces seismic risks, other regions have recently experienced severe weather, as highlighted in reports such as the recent coverage of storms and hail affecting northern and eastern Spain. These events show the importance of preparedness and coordinated emergency response across the country.
Granada’s rapid response, continued inspections and communication from authorities have helped maintain public safety and minimize disruption. With aftershocks still possible, local officials continue to prioritize monitoring and support for affected residents.
