Three Injured as Strong Quake Shakes Granada's Heritage Sites

A moderate earthquake struck the southern Spanish city

A moderate earthquake struck the southern Spanish city of Granada on Thursday, leaving three people injured and causing damage to several structures and vehicles across the historic urban core. The tremors, which lasted several seconds, prompted authorities to temporarily shut down the Alhambra, the renowned Moorish palace complex that draws millions of visitors each year.

The Spanish National Geographic Institute reported the quake registered a magnitude of 4.4, with its epicenter located in the nearby Santa Fe area. Local emergency services confirmed that the injured individuals suffered minor wounds, mostly from falling debris, and none were in serious condition.

Beyond the Alhambra, the shaking rattled numerous old buildings in Granada's maze-like Albayzín quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Witnesses described seeing cracked facades, dislodged roof tiles, and a few parked cars crushed by falling masonry. Police cordoned off several streets as a precaution, and engineers were dispatched to assess the structural integrity of affected properties.

Officials stated that the monument's closure is temporar…

Officials stated that the monument's closure is temporary, pending a full safety review of its walls and towers. The Alhambra, a symbol of Spain's Islamic heritage, had only recently reopened after pandemic-related restrictions, and the quake has once again disrupted its operations.

Granada sits near the boundary of the Eurasian and African tectonic plates, making seismic activity a recurring feature of the region. Though earthquakes here are typically mild, Thursday's event served as a stark reminder of the area's vulnerability, particularly for its aging architecture.

The mayor's office urged residents to remain calm and avoid damaged zones, while assuring that city services are working to restore normalcy quickly. No aftershocks of significant strength have been recorded so far, but monitoring continues. This incident adds to a string of minor tremors that have shaken the province over the past week, keeping local authorities on high alert.