Imagine waking up to your entire room trembling—lamps swaying, furniture rattling, and the uneasy feeling that something powerful is happening beneath your feet.
That’s exactly how the morning began for residents and tourists across southern Spain today, as a 5.5-magnitude earthquake jolted the region awake.
Powerful Quake Hits Near Almeria Coast
At exactly 7:13 a.m., a strong earthquake struck just off the southeastern coast of Spain, close to Almeria.
According to Spain’s National Geographic Institute, the quake occurred at a shallow depth of just two kilometers, amplifying its effects across a wide area.
Over 50 towns, including the well-known tourist destination of Alicante, reported feeling the tremors.
Airport Roof Partially Collapses But No Injuries
In the aftermath of the quake, Almeria Airport experienced some structural damage.
A section of the suspended ceiling gave way, crashing to the ground about an hour after the initial tremors.
Thankfully, no one was injured, but the incident did underscore the force of the earthquake.
Tourists and Locals Share Scary Experiences
Across the region, people turned to social media to describe the experience.
One tourist staying in Roquetas de Mar described how their entire hotel room shook, saying the quake “lasted a few seconds but felt much longer.”
A British ex-pat living in Almeria said it was a “rude awakening,” calling it “pretty scary to say the least.”
Others shared similar stories of being jolted out of bed.
One resident, Jose Manuel Navarro, said he immediately jumped up and stood in a doorway for safety as the quake rattled his home.
Dramatic video clips circulating online captured scenes of chandeliers swinging and interiors shaking violently.
Tremors Felt Across Broader Regions
The earthquake’s impact wasn’t confined to Almeria.
Tremors were felt across a wide swath of southern Spain, including parts of Malaga, Granada, and Jaen, as well as the Levante region, which includes Murcia, Alicante, and Albacete.
Reports poured in from all directions, with people describing the quake as “strong” and “surprisingly long-lasting.”
A Reminder of April’s Smaller Quake
This morning’s seismic activity brought back memories of a smaller but still unsettling quake that hit the Costa Blanca back in April.
That one, with a magnitude of 3, struck just past midnight and was centered about five kilometers from the popular town of Torrevieja.
During that incident, both tourists and residents described being violently woken up.
One British ex-pat staying in the Los Balcones area said it felt like he was “almost thrown out of bed.”
He described it as “the strongest and loudest” tremor he’d ever felt, echoing the sentiments of many others in the region at the time.
What’s Next for the Region?
Although no serious damage or injuries have been reported so far from today’s quake, the event has sparked renewed awareness and anxiety about seismic activity in the region.
Authorities have not issued any formal warnings of aftershocks, but many locals remain on edge.
With two noticeable earthquakes hitting within just a few months, it’s a stark reminder that even Spain’s sun-soaked tourist zones aren’t immune to the raw power of nature beneath the earth’s surface.