Andalucia was shaken on Friday morning after a 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Fuengirola, prompting authorities to activate the pre-emergency phase of the region’s seismic risk plan.
The tremor hit at 10.38am, according to Spain’s National Geographic Institute (IGN), which located the quake at a depth of around 78km beneath the Alboran Sea.
Although brief, the shaking was felt strongly across Malaga province, from the capital to Estepona, Benalmadena, Torrox and Nerja, and even across parts of Sevilla and Cordoba, including the Guadalquivir valley.
In Cordoba city the quake reached intensity level II, meaning it was weak but perceptible to many residents.
Moments later, the 112 emergency line began receiving a flood of calls from towns such as Puente Genil, Nueva Carteya and the provincial capital, as well as multiple points along the Costa del Sol.
So far, there are no reports of injuries or damage, but monitoring remains active.
Following the tremor, Andalucia’s pre-emergency earthquake protocol was activated. The move ensures rapid coordination between emergency services should further seismic activity occur.
The 4.8 quake is one of the strongest recorded in Spain in recent weeks, and its effects were amplified by the region’s geological setting.
Why the Costa del Sol is prone to shaking
Malaga sits adjacent to the Alboran Fault Zone, a network of active tectonic fractures separating the African and Eurasian plates. Structures such as the Averroes and Carboneras faults are responsible for the bulk of the seismic rumbling that occasionally unsettles southern Spain.
While most tremors are too small to be noticed, moderate quakes, like Friday’s, are not uncommon.
Tsunami fears: What the science says
The Alboran Sea is also one of Spain’s areas with highest tsunami potential, although destructive events are extremely rare. The Spanish government’s 2021 State Plan for Tsunami Risk identifies the Malaga coastline and Melilla as particularly vulnerable should a major undersea quake hit.
Official modelling indicates that, in the event of a significant submarine rupture, waves exceeding five metres could theoretically reach parts of the Costa del Sol in as little as 20 minutes.
Early-warning systems are designed to trigger immediate alerts, giving local authorities precious minutes to mobilise evacuation and protection measures.
In Friday’s case, no tsunami alerts have been issued.
Emergency services continue to monitor the area closely. The tremor was followed by a smaller 1.9-magnitude quake near Zafarraya (Granada) just before noon, believed to be unrelated, but no damage was reported.
