Multiple earthquakes jolt southern Spain, tourist sites close
A magnitude-4.7 to 4.8 earthquake struck southern Spain's Granada province Tuesday at approximately 10:37 a.m. local time, injuring at least three people and forcing hotel evacuations and partial closure of the Alhambra.
- 3 people were lightly injured; one minor was taken to hospital.
- 50+ emergency calls reported falling debris and cracks in buildings.
- The epicentre was roughly 10 km south of Granada city, near Gojar or Alhendín.
- Saturday's preceding quake measured magnitude 5.0 to 5.2 and also damaged buildings.
Why it matters: Granada sits at one of Spain's most active seismic zones and hosts millions of tourists annually. Repeated quakes within days have disrupted tourism infrastructure, closed landmarks, and raised building safety concerns.
- The Alhambra, a UNESCO-listed palace complex, received 2.7 million visitors last year and had tourist access restricted Tuesday.
- Granada's metro reduced train speeds to 30 kph; museums, sports facilities, and administrative buildings were closed.
How 4 sources split on this story
Left coverage, 1 sources: The left frames this around the scale of disruption to a major cultural landmark and the technical seismic context, noting surface-level quakes cause more localised damage.
Right coverage, 2 sources: The right emphasises the threat to tourists, vivid on-the-ground damage, and the personal fear of those caught in the quakes.
What’s next: Andalusia's Health and Emergencies councillor Antonio Sanz said he would convene the earthquake emergency plan advisory committee immediately after assessing damage.
- Andalusia's president Juanma Moreno warned that further seismic movements and aftershocks may continue.
- How extensive is structural damage to residential and historic buildings in the affected area?
- Will the Alhambra and other closed sites reopen quickly, and what economic impact will the disruptions carry?