Granada earthquake - live: Powerful 5-magnitude tremor hits Spain as tourists flee

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Residents in areas impacted by the earthquake have been warned to avoid leaving and re-entering their homes unless necessary.

"If you are well and your home is undamaged, avoid entering and leaving the building unnecessarily," the First Vice President said.

"If you notice cracks or damage, move away from the area and report it to 112."

While no serious structural damage has been reported in southern Spain, some vehicles have been left seriously damaged by falling debris.

Rockfalls and cracks have been reported in Alhendn, while La Zubia has seen damage to some homes and brief evacuations.

In Gjar, the church, the town hall, and several old or abandoned houses with roof damage are being inspected.

More than 500 calls, mostly from Granada, were made to emergency services following this morning's earthquake.

Reports came from several towns within the tourist hotspot, including Motril, Almucar, Armilla, La Zubia, Churriana de la Vega and Guadix.

Calls have also been received from Almera, Seville and Mlaga, as well as from multiple other municipalities in these provinces.

Specialists say it's possible for 3 or 4 magnitude tremors to continue to occur in southern Spain "in the coming hours or days".

This estimate is based on the behavior of previous earthquakes in the region, authorities said in a meeting held with the Ministry of the Presidency, Health and Emergencies of the Andalusian Regional Government.

Vice-president Antonio Sanz Cabello explained: "The occurrence of further aftershocks is within the expected evolution of a seismic series of this nature.

"The public should be aware of this to avoid alarm, remain calm, and always follow the information provided by scientific organizations and official services.

"In this situation, learning self-protection guidelines is the best way to prevent risks."

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Alhendn, the earthquake's epicentre, is located in southern Spain, just minutes from Granada(Image: Google Maps)

Antonio Sanz Cabello, vice-president of the Andalusian government, says the region is "prepared for possible aftershocks".

Posting to X, he wrote: "We maintain the alert, monitoring, and are prepared for a possible response to aftershocks that may occur, with a risk of cornices or other elements falling."

Dramatic footage filmed from a home balcony captures the moment the earthquake strikes, with the scene shaking violently as dust and debris fly across the camera.

The tremor's epicentre was in Alhendin rocking the area just after 1am local time.

A huge 5 magnitude earthquake has rocked the Granada region in southern Spain.

According to the National Geographic Institute a quake occurred at exactly 1.04am with a depth of 2km, followed by another at 10km, with a latitude of 37,1147 degrees and -3.6618 degrees longitude.

The quake was followed by around 40 tremors which are described as a 'seismic swarm' rather than one typically strong tremor.

And the head of Emergencies for the Granada Provincial Council, Eduardo Martos said experts are warning of more aftershocks.

People were evacuated from homes when the earthquake hit but the regional government has confirmed that there has not been any structural damage to property.

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A road with a crack in it following the earthquake(Image: SOLARPIX.COM)

Juan Vicente Cantavella, director of the National Seismic Network, says that the Granada area is in a high risk area for earthquakes.

"It is one of the areas with the highest seismic risk on the Iberian Peninsula," he said, adding that the faults have caused "significant earthquakes in the past".

Granada is popular for tourism with many people visiting the Alhambra fortress which dates back to the 13th century - and it was badly damaged by an earthquake in 1401.

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The Alhambra in Granada was damaged by an earthquake in 1401(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Footage shows debris on the road in Granada following the earthquake.

The magnitude-5 tremor struck the city in southern Spain overnight, damaging buildings and sparking panic.

The tremor's epicentre was in Alhendin rocking the area after 1am local time on Saturday.

According to the National Geographic Institute, the quake occurred at a depth of 2km, followed by another at 10km, with a latitude of 37,1147 degrees and -3.6618 degrees longitude.

"We could really feel the shaking; it was so powerful that it woke us up," Marta Mayorga Fernandez told public broadcaster RTVE from Huetor Vega, near Granada.

She said she had seen "quite a few" properties with damaged door fronts, while friends had shared photos showing belongings that had been knocked off shelves.

A picture from Granada taken in the aftermath of the earthquake shows a huge crack in a the road.

[Roads cracked as the earthquake struck in Granada]

Roads cracked as the earthquake struck in Granada(Image: SOLARPIX.COM)

People evacuated homes but there was no structural damage to property says a councillor from the town in the epicentre of the earthquake.

Alhendn , a municipality of about 11,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area of Granada, was the epicentre of the earthquake which brought residents out into the squares.

But the quake has not caused material damage beyond some non-structural cracks.

The Councillor for Citizen Security, Mariano del Ro, said there is fear of following up tremors but there has not been significant damage so far.

"People took to the streets, and they did so calmly and in an orderly fashion," Del Ro explained.

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Residents in the street in Granada during the earthquake(Image: SOLARPIX.COM)

Antonio Sanz Cabello, vice-president of the Andalusian government, has given an update on the emergency plan following the earthquake.

He wrote on X: "On the Advisory Committee of the Seismic Risk Emergency Plan of Andalusia.

"We are monitoring, assessing the scope, and providing immediate response to seismic movements in the province of #Granada with experts, institutions, and town councils."

The head of Emergencies for the Granada Provincial Council, Eduardo Martos said experts are warning of more aftershocks.

The situation is similar to the 2021 earthquake swarm which also affected Granada but currently Martos has rules out any significant structural damage from the quake.

Speaking after an emergency seismic committee meeting, Martos said the aftershocks are likely to be between magnitude 3 and 3.5.

"There is no structural damage," said Martos, who added that "preventative" evacuations took place and people have been able to return home.

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Damage to cars from debris(Image: PEPE TORRES/EPA/Shutterstock)

A level one emergency plan has been put in place by the regional government following the serious earthquake in Granada.

It means a specialised response has been organised to respond to incidents, assess damage while also continuing to monitor seismic activity.

It is the second level of four with the maximum being for a national emergency.

Under level one there is coordination between emergency services but it does not mean that the situation is out of control.

The General Secretary of the PSOE party in Andalusia, Mara Jess Montero, has urged people to take care following the earthquake which has caused damaged to buildings and roads.

The politician wrote on X: "Take care following the 5-magnitude earthquake and the numerous tremors that have occurred in Granada, which have also been felt in other provinces.

"Our thoughts are with those affected and please, caution regarding the damage caused to buildings and streets."

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Rubble in the street following the earthquake(Image: SOLARPIX.COM)

An earthquake also hit Granada last month which measured a magnitude of 3.7.

The quake occurred 3.73 miles (6km) south of Granada on July 26 sparking fear in the nearby city as floors and walls moved.

The epicentre was in the town of Ogjares, at a depth of 6km. It was felt in several parts of Granada province as well as in several municipalities in Malaga province.

It was rough here in Churriana de la Vega; I was asleep and went flying out of bed, one person who lives 3km from the epicentre said.

The earthquakes in Granada is described as a 'seismic swarm' rather than one typically strong tremor.

Unlike conventional sequences, where a violent main event occurs followed by aftershocks that progressively decrease in magnitude, a seismic swarm sees a large number of more moderate tremors which are concentrated in the same area and can go on for days.

There were around 40 earthquakes in Granada and its metropolitan area during the early hours of Saturday morning.

These followed the magnitude 5 quake centered in Alhendn at 1.04am causing significant damage.

The National Geographic Institute recorded the 40 tremors after the main one in Alhendn which triggered more than 200 emergency calls.

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People in the street following the earthquake(Image: SOLARPIX.COM)

A magnitude 5 earthquake with its epicentre in Alhendn shook Granada during the early hours of the morning.

According to the National Geographic Institute a quake occurred at exactly 1.04am with a depth of 2km, followed by another at 10km, with a latitude of 37,1147 degrees and -3.6618 degrees longitude.

The earthquake occurred seven hours after an initial earthquake of magnitude 3.7 with an epicentre in the town of La Zubia.