Linea Directa 200 LEFT COL CAR INSURANCE

PROPERTY SEARCH

Date Published: 06/05/2024

Two earthquakes rock the Orihuela Costa area of Alicante

ARCHIVED ARTICLE -

The tremors, located in Torrevieja and Playa Flamenca, were felt for miles around

Two earthquakes rock the Orihuela Costa area of Alicante

While the entire Vega Baja area of Alicante was enjoying plenty of sunshine and temperatures approaching 30ºC over the weekend, the city of Torrevieja and its border with the Orihuela Costa coastal districts were shook by two earthquakes.

The National Geographic Institute (IGN) recorded an earthquake of magnitude 2.2 in the early hours of Saturday May 4 and another of magnitude 2 on Sunday morning, May 5.

The first, located in Torrevieja occurred at 1.21am on Saturday morning. The tremor’s epicentre was in the middle of the Torrevieja salt lagoon, although its exact depth is unknown.

The second mild earthquake was recorded on Sunday. Measuring 2.0 on the Richter scale, the epicentre was pinpointed right on the border of Torrevieja and the Orihuela Costa neighbourhood of Playa Flamenca, where more than 2,200 apartments are soon to be built on the frontline of Cala Mosca beach. This quake was around 8 kilometres deep, according to the National Geographic Institute.

Although both earthquakes were relatively minor, their after-effects were felt by residents all around, including those living in Torrevieja city and surrounds, the residential area of San Miguel de Salinas, Los Montesinos, Guardamar del Segura and Los Balcones in Torrevieja.

Normally, tremors are only really noticed when they exceed 2 degrees of magnitude, although the residents of the Vega Baja region, which has a long history of earthquakes, have become especially sensitive to this type of seismic event.

The last earthquakes recorded by the IGN with a magnitude greater than 3 occurred in Rojales (2013), Los Montesinos (2015) and the southeast of San Miguel de Salinas (2018).

The latest is the sixth earthquake recorded in Torrevieja so far this year. Before 2024 is out, experts expect to see dozens of small quakes, since the Bajo Segura is one of the most seismically active areas in all of Spain, surpassed only by the province of Granada.

Back in 1829, a tremor so violent it levelled the entire city has earned the name of the ‘Torrevieja Earthquake’, a moniker it still holds today. It completely devastated the towns of Almoradí, Benejúzar, Guardamar and seriously affected others.

In other news: Night market returns to Cabo Roig this summer

Images: IGN

Linea Directa Bottom Article A-L CAR INSURANCE

staff.inc.ali

Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox

Special offer: Subscribe now for 25% off (36.95 euros for 48 Bulletins)