AFP: Granada was hit by an earthquake, causing minor damage to the Alhambra Palace

Madrid – Another earthquake struck the Spanish Granada today, injuring three people and causing minor damage to the famous Alhambra palace. It remained closed for the rest of the day. This was reported by the AFP agency, which stated that these were already the second significant tremors in the region in recent days. This morning, according to the national geological institute, they measured a magnitude of 4.8, and the epicenter was in the town of Alhendín, located a few kilometers south of Granada.

The Alhambra is one of the most visited Spanish monuments and is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The complex of buildings and courtyards was constructed from the original military fortress on a hill above Granada by Moorish rulers starting in the 11th century. During their reign, Granada was a city where Arabs, Berbers, Christians, and Jews lived side by side.

Following today's tremors, the palace was closed preventively for the rest of the day. The first inspection found no significant structural damage or risk of collapse, according to local official Antonio Sanz, as reported by AFP. At an evening press conference, he stated that there were minor damages in some areas of the monument, such as on the battlements, plaster, and decorative elements.

Emergency services reported that hundreds of people in Granada contacted them, reporting cracks in buildings, falling debris, and other incidents related to the earthquake. Three people sustained minor injuries, including one girl who was treated by medical staff at the hospital.

An earthquake measuring five on the Richter scale shook Granada on Saturday, and authorities stated that these were the strongest tremors in Andalusia since 1955, wrote AFP. The weekend tremors did not injure anyone but did damage some buildings.