Archive · 15 Aug 2026
5.0-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Granada, Spain; Officials Report No Casualties
In the middle of the night, a big shake woke people up in a city in Spain called Granada.
The shake was an earthquake with a strength of 5.0, which is strong enough to be felt but not among the biggest ever.
It started near a small town called Alhendin, not far from Granada.
The earthquake made some walls crack, roof tiles fall and cars get damaged.
Firefighters were very busy and answered 300 calls to help people.
The good news is that nobody was badly hurt.
A very famous old palace in Granada called the Alhambra was also safe.
Leaders told people to stay calm, stay away from walls and balconies, and be careful because more small shakes could come.
Granada had not felt an earthquake this strong since 1955.
A 5.0-magnitude earthquake struck the southern Spanish city of Granada shortly after 1:00 am on Saturday.
The epicentre was in the town of Alhendin, 10 kilometres south of Granada, according to the National Geographical Institute.
Officials confirmed no casualties and no serious structural damage, but houses, cars and streets suffered damage.
The Alhambra palace, a UNESCO-listed site, was not affected in any way, authorities said.
Andalusian emergency services declared an emergency, received 300 calls and made 85 interventions; the last quake of this magnitude in Andalusia hit in 1955.
- Who
- Residents of Granada and nearby towns, with officials led by Antonio Sanz Cabello of the Andalusian regional government responding.
- What
- A 5.0-magnitude earthquake that damaged buildings, houses and cars but caused no casualties.
- When
- Saturday, shortly after 1:00 am local time (2300 GMT Friday).
- Where
- Southern Spain, with the epicentre in Alhendin, 10 kilometres (six miles) south of Granada.
- Why
- A natural seismic tremor striking a region that last experienced an earthquake of this magnitude in 1955; the articles give no other cause.
- Magnitude
- 5.0
- Epicentre
- Alhendin, 10 km (6 miles) south of Granada, Spain
- Time
- Shortly after 1:00 am local time Saturday (2300 GMT Friday)
- Casualties
- None reported
- Damage
- Cracks, fallen rubble and damage to some buildings, houses and cars; no serious structural damage
- Alhambra palace
- Not affected in any way
- Emergency response
- 300 calls received and 85 fire service interventions; emergency declared
- Last similar quake
- 1955 in Andalusia