PANIC gripped Granada overnight as a powerful earthquake shook the city, prompting authorities to declare an emergency as roads cracked and falling debris crushed cars.
The magnitude-5 tremor struck at around 1am on Saturday, sending terrified residents fleeing homes and hotels as more than 200 calls for help flooded emergency services. No injuries have been reported.
The quake, whose epicentre was in the village of Alhendin south-west of the city, was felt across Andalucia and as far as Madrid, with people calling emergency services from Malaga, Sevilla, Cordoba, Jaen and Almeria.
One Granada resident told The Olive Press: “I could see water sloshing around in my swimming pool, like waves in the sea.
“Everything was shaking. It was quite strong and quite long. It seemed to go on for about 10 seconds.
“It was scary, really. It makes you feel powerless.”
Responders have rescued people who became trapped in lifts, while several homes and cars were damaged by the jolt.
Debris was pictured falling into the street in Alhendin as the tremor ripped chunks of concrete from building facades, while firefighters were called to inspect more than 100 buildings in Granada and surrounding towns.
Some of the worst damage was reported in the southern parts of Granada and nearby towns, with cracks, fallen cornices and other pieces of facades reported across the area.
Some hotels were evacuated as a precaution amid fears over the stability of buildings.
One local streamer was broadcasting live when the quake struck, with footage capturing his reaction quickly going viral online.
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The earthquake was followed by a series of aftershocks, with the national geographic institute recording several tremors in the surrounding area during the following hours.
At least 13 earthquakes were recorded in the wider Granada area in the hours after the main quake, including one measuring 2.6 in magnitude just six minutes later.
The aftershocks prompted thousands of frightened residents to leave their homes and gather in streets and squares, with some taking chairs, blankets and other belongings outside to spend the night in the open.
Antonio Sanz Cabello, the vice-president of the Andalucian government, urged calm as authorities scrambled to attend to terrified residents.
“If you are in Granada, you have felt the earthquake, you are okay, and your home shows no damage, stay calm and avoid entering and exiting buildings unnecessarily,” he wrote on X.
“On the street, stay away from facades, cornices, balconies, walls and other elements that could fall.”
The Junta activated the emergency phase of its seismic risk plan following the quake, allowing authorities to coordinate resources and assess potentially damaged buildings.
Sanz said firefighters and police were inspecting and cordoning off the worst-affected areas, urging residents to stay away from damaged structures.
The authorities have stressed that there is currently no way to predict whether further earthquakes will occur, although additional aftershocks cannot be ruled out.
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