September 11th 2024.
According to locals, the recent earthquake in Gran Canaria was like a "steam roller passing by". The island, known for its sunny beaches and popular among British tourists, was hit by its largest earthquake in 60 years. The tremors, which lasted for about a minute, were first reported as a 4.2 magnitude quake by Spain's National Geographic Institute. However, the figure was later revised to 3.8, indicating that the quake was strong enough to cause minor damage and was felt by many.
The epicentre of the earthquake was located near the capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, with a depth of 20.5km. Reports of people feeling the tremors came in from all 14 municipalities on the island. Itahiza Dominguez, director of the Canary Islands of the National Geographic Institute, stated that this was one of the largest earthquakes the island has experienced in the last six decades.
Residents described the experience as similar to thunder, with dishes rattling, windows creaking and light fixtures swaying. One resident from Santa Christina, which is about 10 miles from the epicentre, said, "The bed shook and the wardrobe creaked. It was quite a shock." Another added, "It felt like a steamroller passed by." Thankfully, there were no reports of injuries or major damage.
The intensity of the shaking was categorized as III on the Mercalli scale, with a few reports of category V shaking up to 12 miles away from the epicentre. The tremor was felt in towns such as Agaete, Firgas, Arucas, Teror, and Moya, while central areas like Vega de San Mateo, Valleseco, and Valsequio also felt its effects. In some towns, like Gáldar and Ingenio, the quake was felt faintly, while in others, like Telde and Mogán, people reported feeling the ground shake.
One woman from Guía even stated that she didn't feel anything and thought it was a joke when she heard the news. Although there have been no further aftershocks reported, officials have not ruled out the possibility of more seismic activity. Being located near several fault lines, Gran Canaria has experienced earthquakes before, such as a 3.8 tremor in Vega de San Mateo eight years ago, which was felt even in towns located far from the epicentre.
The Canary Islands are a popular vacation destination for British holidaymakers, and many visit Gran Canaria every year. Luckily, the earthquake did not cause any major disruptions to the island's tourism industry. As the island continues to monitor the situation, residents and tourists are advised to stay alert and prepared for any further seismic activity.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
