Spain shaken by 5.2-magnitude earthquake

 

An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale has shaken central Spain.

The tremor, which had its epicenter in Albacete province, in the southeast of the country, took place at 5.16pm local time on Monday and was felt in several regions, including Madrid, Valencia, Murcia and Castilla-La Mancha, Spain's National Geographic Institute (IGN) confirmed. It described the magnitude of the quake as "moderate-strong."

The epicenter was located in the town of Ossa de Montiel, 83 kilometers from Albacete city, and occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers, which IGN sources described as "very shallow."

Minutes after, at 5.27pm, a 2.5-magnitude aftershock was registered at a depth of 19 kilometers. Around an hour later, a second measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale was detected with its epicenter close to the first.

The tremor occurred along the same fault line as two 5.4 and 4.5 quakes that caused extensive damage in the town of Lorca, in Murcia, in May 2011.

Questionnaires are now being sent out to determine what damage the quake may have caused, but so far civil protection authorities in the affected areas have not reported any effects worthy of the IGN's consideration.

"The whole house vibrated, all the glasses and plates were shaking, and the lamps, and the dogs didn't stop barking," explained Rafael Mora, 55, justice of the peace in Ossa de Montiel.

First witness reports collected by EL PAÍS have ruled out damage to individuals or property.

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