AN EARTHQUAKE measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale shook the province of Granada in the early hours of this morning (Tuesday) – but failed to wake the neighbours.
According to the National Geographical Institute (IGN), the epicentre of the tremor, registered at exactly 05.12 today, was to the south-west of the town of Loja, close to that of Archidona.
As the quake was 11 kilometres underground, it was deep enough that nobody felt it.
Closer to the surface, at this magnitude, an earthquake would normally produce a split second's sharp movement and rumbling, which may cause precariously-situated and lightweight objects to fall or for those in vulnerable positions, such as up a shaky ladder, to struggle with their balance for a moment.
Damage to structurally-sound buildings does not normally occur until the quake is at least 4 or 4.5 and just a few kilometres below ground, although this damage tends to be similar to that which would be caused by a gale-force wind.
Quakes of 4 or above are fairly rare in Spain, but those of between 1 and 3.5 are very common and the huge majority are not even felt, neither do they cause any long-term wear and tear to buildings.
In the case of this morning's tremor between Loja and Archidona, nobody is known to have been hurt and nothing is thought to be damaged.
Photograph by the National Geographical Institute (IGN)
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