Two earthquakes, of magnitudes 4.5 and 5.1 respectively, hit the town of Lorca, Murcia in southeastern Spain on Wednesday afternoon.
Lorca is about two hours northeast of Granada, and lies in an area that is prone to earthquakes. This is apparently the worst quake experienced in 50 years.
The following appeared in El Pais, the Spanish national newspaper today:
"Nine people have died in Lorca, Murcia region, after two earthquakes hit the area late on Wednesday afternoon, causing considerable damage and leaving dozens of people homeless. One more person is officially missing and almost 300 have been treated for injuries, three remaining in a serious condition.
The first quake, of a magnitude of 4.5, hit at 5.05pm on Wednesday just northeast of Lorca. Authorities said it was followed by a stronger, 5.1 magnitude quake at 6.47pm. A child was reported among the victims.
The heaviest damage was reported between five and 10 kilometers outside the town center, close to Murcia's main highway. Many roads and streets were cut off by large cracks in the pavements while authorities warned motorists to keep off primary roads. Widespread damage to houses and other buildings was reported and residents were told to stay outdoors for safety.
"First we felt a strong movement and then heard a lot of noise and got really scared, said Juani Avellaneda, whose house was slightly damaged.
Murcia is located in an area in Spain that is most prone to earthquakes, according to Emilio Carreño of the National Geographical Institute.
Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and opposition leader Mariano Rajoy agree to suspend political campaigning on Thursday ahead of the May 22 local and regional elections. Speaking on behalf of the government, Zapatero said no expense would be spared to repair the "considerable" damage caused by the tremors.
In Lorca, some 10,000 people spent the night in tents erected in the town's fairground, fearing the possibility of aftershocks or more building collapses."
We were not intending to visit this part of Spain, but obviously we will keep an eye on developments.
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