Granada earthquake injures three, disrupts Alhambra

A magnitude-4.8 earthquake near Granada lightly injured three people on Tuesday, damaged buildings and disrupted access to parts of the Alhambra, officials in southern Spain said.

The quake struck at about 10:38 am local time, with its epicentre in Alhendin, about 10 kilometres south of Granada, according to Spain's National Geographical Institute.

Antonio Sanz, the Andalusia region's top emergencies official, said three people were lightly injured, including a girl who was taken to hospital. Emergency services said they received more than 50 calls reporting cracks in walls and falling debris.

Granada municipal police urged people not to stay close to buildings because of the risk of falling debris. Videos posted on social media showed debris in streets and damage to some cars in the tourist city.

The Alhambra's Alcazaba, the complex's historic fortress and oldest section, was evacuated after the earthquake. Access to the Nasrid Palaces was suspended while conservation teams, supported by University of Granada experts, checked the complex.

The quake came days after a magnitude-5.0 earthquake woke residents in Granada shortly after 1:00 am on Saturday. No injuries were reported from that earlier quake, although some buildings were damaged.

Juan Manuel Moreno, the head of the regional government, said experts believed seismic movements and aftershocks could continue in the area and urged “maximum caution”.