Six Earthquakes Strike Granada Overnight as Regional Alert Remains Active
Granada Hit by Overnight Earthquake Swarm
Spain's Granada metropolitan area recorded six earthquakes from midnight into early morning on 19 August 2026, the largest at magnitude 2.5, five of which were felt by residents. [1] This sequence followed a magnitude-3.4 quake the previous evening and occurred while a regional seismic pre-emergency plan remained active after a magnitude-5 event on 16 August. [1] The Instituto Geográfico Nacional captured the six tremors with epicenters in La Zubia, Las Gabias, Otura, Alhendín, Ogíjares and Güíjar. [1] The first two felt events reached magnitudes 1.7 and 1.8 in La Zubia and Las Gabias at 1.45 and 2.34 hours. [1] Four additional tremors between magnitudes 1.6 and 2.5 struck Otura, Alhendín, Ogíjares and Güíjar between 4.07 and 5.43 hours. [1] The strongest of these, magnitude 2.5, was perceived across a score of municipalities in the Granada metropolitan area. [1] Reports of the shaking reached authorities even from coastal locations. [1] The Vega de Granada region therefore began the day under continued technical inspections of buildings and with residents displaced in several localities. [1] The Junta de Andalucía kept the pre-emergency phase of its seismic risk plan in force for Granada province following the earlier magnitude-5 shock centered in Alhendín. [1]
Magnitude 4.8 Quake Strikes Off Peru
Six earthquakes struck Granada overnight with the strongest measuring magnitude 2.5. — Source: gdelt A magnitude-4.8 earthquake struck 42 km southwest of Lurín, Peru, at 05:28 local time on 19 August 2026 at a depth of 42 km and intensity III. [2] The Instituto Geofísico del Perú issued the official report listing coordinates at latitude -12.46 and longitude -77.20. [2] Residents in multiple localities evacuated homes after the shaking began. [2] The event prompted immediate public alerts and the release of emergency contact numbers for police, firefighters, civil defense and medical services. [2] Many families left their dwellings and moved into the streets for safety. [2] The IGP report confirmed the shock was felt at intensity III in the Lurín reference area. [2]
Strong Tremor Shakes Northern Norway
A magnitude-4.4 earthquake, listed as 4.5 by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, occurred at 23:06 Norwegian time on 18 August 2026, 21-32 km west of Ørnes in Meløy municipality, Nordland county, at a depth of 10 km. [3] [4] Residents described first hearing a loud bang followed by strong shaking. [3] One witness in Ørnes reported sitting with his wife when the noise occurred and then feeling intense movement that exceeded earlier quakes experienced in the 1980s. [3] Police in the Nordland district received numerous calls from concerned residents across large parts of the county. [3] Officers on duty also felt the vibration inside their building before the phones began ringing. [3] The event produced more reports than a magnitude-3 quake that struck eastern Norway in April. [3]
Minor Nevada Quake Recorded
A separate magnitude-2.7 earthquake was recorded 30 km south of Moapa Valley, Nevada, at a depth of 16 km. [5] The United States Geological Survey listed the precise location and depth without additional felt reports or damage indicators. [5]
Local Responses and Damage Assessments
No major damage or injuries were immediately reported from any of the events. [1] Local authorities in Granada began technical inspections of buildings and noted that some residents were displaced. [1] In Peru, officials published emergency telephone numbers including central police at 105, firefighters at 116 and civil defense at 115. [2] Norwegian police in Bodø handled a surge of calls from people who felt the shaking and remained concerned afterward. [3] Witnesses in Ørnes checked their homes for damage and found none visible. [3] The ongoing pre-emergency plan in Granada province continued to guide official actions following the sequence of overnight tremors. [1]
What to watch next: Further aftershocks remain possible in the Granada area while the pre-emergency plan stays active, and authorities in Peru and Norway continue to monitor for any additional reports from the recent events.
