Second major tremor in days shakes Granada as quakes continue PHOTO

A series of earthquakes has struck Spain’s Granada province, with tremors felt across neighboring areas of Andalusia, including parts of Málaga, Almería, and Jaén, El Pais reports.

According to provisional data from Spain’s National Geographic Institute (IGN), a magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck Granada on August 18. It followed a magnitude 5.0 tremor that hit the region on August 15.

A magnitude 4.0 aftershock was also recorded shortly afterward at 10:53 a.m., with its epicenter near Churriana de la Vega.

The regional government has activated Phase 1 of Andalusia’s Emergency Plan for Seismic Risk in response to the continued seismic activity. Antonio Sanz, the regional minister for emergencies, convened the Seismic Plan Advisory Committee and urged residents to follow official self-protection measures.

Experts said the earthquakes appear to form a typical “seismic swarm” — a sequence of foreshocks, a main earthquake, and subsequent aftershocks that can occur in the Baetic mountain range.

Residents in Granada, Almería, Jaén, and coastal areas of Málaga, including Rincón de la Victoria, Torre del Mar, Torrox, and Nerja, reported feeling the tremors.

Emergency services have advised residents to remain calm and take shelter under sturdy furniture during an earthquake to protect themselves from falling objects. Once the shaking stops, people are advised to evacuate to an open area using stairs rather than elevators.

Authorities have also urged residents to call the emergency number 112 only in cases involving injuries or serious damage, helping keep telephone lines available for critical calls.

By Vafa Guliyeva