The earthquakes that sometimes occur in countries like Japan as a result of the movement of tectonic plates worry us so much that it makes us wonder if such a destructive earthquake could occur in Spain, capable of putting our infrastructures to the test.
How likely is it to experience something like this? AND, What are the places with the highest risk of suffering an earthquake in Spain?
Can we breathe easy?
According to the technician of the National Geographic Institute, Carlos González, it is possible that one day an earthquake of magnitude 6 or more will occur, but it is very unlikely. Unfortunately, earthquakes cannot be predicted yet, so for the moment only data on those that have occurred to date can be studied.
In doing so, we will realize there have been very few really major earthquakes. Some of them were:
- 1954: Earthquake in Dúrcal (Granada) reached 7 degrees Richter on March 29.
- 2009: Earthquake southwest of Cape St. Vincent reached 6,3 on the Richter scale on December 17.
- 2011: Earthquake in Lorca reached 4,5 on the Richter scale on May 11.
The Spanish places with the most seismic activity
Image - IGN
The places with the most seismic activity in Spain are Almería, Murcia, Granada, Cabo de San Vicente, Cádiz, the Strait of Gibraltar, the Alboran Sea and Melilla. It should also be taken into account that Algeria has significant seismic activity, and it can sometimes be felt in Spain.
Other areas with the possibility of earthquakes are the Pyrenees y Galicia, but this is much less than in the south of the country. On the two plateaus there is usually no activity, since, as explained by the expert, Castilla y León, Madrid and the north of Castilla-La Mancha are the most stable areas of the peninsula.
If you want to know what are the last earthquakes felt, Click here.