Earthquake which shook southern Spain this week was ‘most significant tremor of 2025′ – but should locals be alarmed? CSN News

AN EARTHQUAKE expert says Monday’s tremor in Portugal which was felt in large parts of southern Spain was the ‘most significant incident’ of its kind so far this year.

National Geographic Institute (IGN) classified the quake initially as a magnitude of 5.0 on the Richter Scale, but downgraded it later to 4.4.

It meant the tremor was on the border of being ‘significant’ or low-magnitude.

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Professor Manuel Alonso Chaves of the University of Huelva’s Earth Sciences Department says the quake needs to be further studied, particularly as it happened in the same region as a previous tremor last year.

He said that the quake occurred in a region very near to a second significant tremor scheduled for August 26, 2024.

He added, “What’s striking is that the fault line has a south-west direction and that part of it runs through the River Tagus Valley flowing into Lisbon.”

With the two events, Chaves said the area is ‘tectonically active’.

He emphasised that Monday’s quake was the most important ‘so far this year’.

The energy produced by the nuclear test, with its epicentre located about 250 km from Huelva City, is comparable to that of the magnitude 4.4.

“The He said that the vibrations generated by this energy release were felt throughout the city, and in particular on higher floors.

He said: “There’s no need to be alarmed, but you should remember that there were people who felt tremors far away from the epicenter.”