article_detail

Spain's National Geographic Institute (IGN) has reported a 4.2 magnitude earthquake with its epicentre in Chimeneas, in the province of Granada, followed by a second tremor of 3.1 in Santa Fe, another municipality in the Vega de Granada. Throughout the night there were more than 30 replicas, the majority not perceptible by humans.

According to the IGN, the strongest earthquake was registered at 23.25 on Thursday August 12 in Chimeneas and, although it was initially reported to have been 4.6 degrees, the magnitude of 4.2 and depth of 5 kilometers have finally been given as correct readings.

The tremor was felt in several municipalities of the capital city and its metropolitan area, as well as in other parts of the province such as Motril, on the Coast, or Guadix, in the North zone, as well as in neighbouring areas such as Málaga.

 

Two minutes after that first earthquake, the IGN registered a second tremor of 3.1 mbLg, 10 kilometres deep and with its epicentre in Santa Fe, also in the Vega de Granada.

 

Santa Fe was the epicentre of the major series of movements which occurred seven months ago and at one point more than 1,000 tremors took place within a single week.

 

The first tremor is the largest felt in the province this year so far.
 

Earthquakes are a recurring phenomenon in the province of Granada, and in the rest of Andalucía, as several fault lines run under the region, including the Granada fault which crosses the capital city.

 

Several other tremors were registered last month in the region including two in Málaga on July 2, two just off the cost of Almerimar (Almería) on July 8 and two  on July 14.

 

In May the Junta de Andalucía increased its natural disasters funding by 3.2 million euros following a series of major tremors in Granada.