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A 4.1 magnitude earthquake shook the Region of Murcia on Sunday morning, August 2, with residents across much of the community reporting that they felt the ground move beneath them. The tremor was also noticed in parts of neighbouring Alicante and Albacete, prompting dozens of calls to the emergency services.

 

According to Spain's National Geographic Institute (IGN), the earthquake struck at 11.59am with its epicentre between Librilla and the Murcian district of Barqueros. The quake originated at a depth of around 5 kilometres, making it shallow enough to be felt across a huge area.

 

The IGN recorded the strongest shaking at level 4 on its intensity scale in Javalí Nuevo, Mula and La Puebla, although people in many other towns across the Region of Murcia also reported feeling the tremor.

 

Librilla, around 30 kilometres south-west of Murcia city, lies within the Lower Guadalentín Basin, an area known for its seismic activity because of the nearby Alhama de Murcia Fault. The fault is one of the most significant in south-east Spain and was responsible for the devastating Lorca earthquakes in May 2011, when two powerful tremors measuring 4.7 and 5.1 claimed nine lives and caused widespread damage.

 

Residents described feeling buildings shake for a few seconds. One Murcia city resident told local media that their television and a vase moved during the tremor, with many saying the shaking was most noticeable on the upper floors of apartment buildings.

 

The Region of Murcia's 112 Emergency Coordination Centre received more than 80 calls from concerned members of the public following the earthquake. Despite the volume of calls, officials confirmed there have been no reports of injuries or damage to property.