MADRID: Spain’s cherished tourist hotspot of Granada was in shock on Saturday after a rare 5.0-magnitude earthquake woke residents in the middle of the night and damaged buildings in the southern city.
The tremor took place shortly after 1:00 am (2300 GMT Friday) with its epicenter in the town of Alhendin, 10 kilometers (six miles) south of Granada, according to the National Geographical Institute (IGN).
“No casualties or serious, widespread structural damage have been reported. Isolated damage is being assessed, especially in vulnerable buildings,” Granada’s mayor Marifran Carazo wrote on X.
Andalusian emergency services said they had received more than 200 calls from across the region, including Seville, Cordoba and beach resorts on the Costa del Sol.
“Cracks have appeared, elements such as ledges, rubble and walls have fallen and damage has been reported in some buildings,” it said in a statement.
