The town of Banyeres de Mariola in Alicante woke up this Sunday, July 30, to a minor earthquake measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale
The tremor was recorded at 6:11 in the morning. Its epicentre is located 2 kilometres deep in the area of Parque Natural de la Font Roja, just 20 kilometres from the town of Banyeres de Mariola.
Epicentre of the earthquake
Emergency services from the Generalitat received six calls to 112 related to the earthquake, but fortunately, it did not cause any personal or material damage. The earthquake was also felt in Ibi, Onil, and Castalla, and to a lesser extent, in Elche, Benidorm, or Alcoi.
The strongest tremor in recent months
The earthquake that occurred this dawn in Banyeres de Mariola is the strongest recorded in the Valencian Community in recent months. In this same month of July, a total of four seismic events have been felt in the southern half of the region. On July 18, the National Geographic Institute recorded two tremors, one in Carcaixent and another in Alzira, measuring 2.5 and 1.8 degrees respectively. Finally, Enguera also experienced a minor earthquake of 1.9 degrees on the Richter scale on July 7.
The province of Alicante is located in a seismically active region, and there are a number of faults that run through the area. These faults can produce earthquakes of varying magnitudes, from small tremors that are barely noticeable to large earthquakes that can cause damage.
In recent years, there have been a number of earthquakes in the province of Alicante. In 2011, there was a magnitude 5.3 earthquake that caused some damage in the town of Petrer. In 2019, there was a magnitude 4.2 earthquake that caused some damage in the town of Callosa d’En Sarrià.
The risk of earthquakes in Alicante is relatively low, but it is not zero. If you are planning to visit or live in Alicante, it is a good idea to be aware of the seismic activity in the area and to take precautions in case of an earthquake.
Here are some tips for earthquake safety in Alicante:
- Learn about the seismic activity in the area. This will help you to understand the risks and to take appropriate precautions.
- Know what to do in the event of an earthquake. This includes having an earthquake plan and knowing where to go for shelter.
- Secure your home. This includes anchoring furniture to the walls and securing heavy objects.
- Be prepared for aftershocks. Aftershocks are common after an earthquake, and they can be just as dangerous as the initial earthquake.
