An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.5 rattled the southern Spanish city of Granada on August 18, 2026, injuring three people and causing damage to buildings and vehicles. The tremor occurred at 10:37 local time, with its epicenter located near the town of Alhendín at a depth of under 10 kilometers, according to Spain's National Geographic Institute (IGN).
Residents described the shaking as stronger than typical tremors. "Everything came crashing down. It was terrifying," said Cristina Ruiz Lopez, a lab worker who was in a supermarket at the time of the earthquake.
The historic Alhambra palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was temporarily closed to allow for an assessment of the situation following the quake. The palace, a significant tourist attraction, welcomes millions of visitors annually.
Granada's metro system reduced train speeds to 30 km/h (19 mph) for safety reasons, warning passengers of potential delays. The full extent of the damage across the city is still being evaluated.