Airport roof collapses as Spain hit by powerful earthquake
The earthquake hit southern Spain, including popular tourist hotspots Costa del Sol and Alicante early on Monday morning.
Spain's National Geographic Institute (IGN) recorded the quake off Cabo De Gata on the Almeria coast at 7.13am local time. Cabo De Gata is the largest protected coastal area in the Andalusia region.
At its maximum intensity the earthquake reached IV-V, or moderate to strong, on the European Macroseismic Scale, which has nine levels, according to the IGN.
Eighteen aftershocks have been recorded so far with the largest measuring 3.4 in magnitude and occurring just five minutes after the main earthquake, according to the latest IGN report.
The main earthquake struck about 19 miles off the coast at a depth of nearly two miles below sea level and was felt in hundreds of towns and villages across Andalusia and the country's Levante region, according to the IGN and local media.
In Almeria, an airport roof collapsed after the quake rattled hundreds of towns, with a car showroom also damaged by the tremors.
Almeria airport roof damaged by the earthquake (SOLARPIX.COM)
An airport worker told local media: 'We heard some noises one after the other and then a loud bang and a great cloud of dust appeared.
'It was a real scare for us. There were airport workers having their first coffee of the day but luckily no one was injured.'
Spanish newspaper El País reported that Granada, Malaga and Jaen, along with Murcia, Alicante and Albacete in the east, were among the hardest-hit areas.
In Huercal de Almeria, a Toyota showroom was damaged. A picture showed the ceiling caved in as it was taped off.
The quake came just a day after torrential rain brought chaos to streets, businesses and holiday plans across much of northeastern Spain.
Spain's weather forecaster AEMET issued severe storm warnings for Huesca, Teruel and Zaragoza, Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona, and Castellón.
The earthquake hit southern Spain, including popular tourist hotspots Costa del Sol and Alicante, at around 7am on Monday (USGS)
Near Barcelona, 71 patients were forced to evacuate Penedès Regional Hospital as streets across Catalonia turned to rivers following flash floods on Saturday.
In Cubelles, a town 30 miles from Barcelona, a witness claimed to have seen a woman and child swept away by floodwater after they fell into the swollen Foix river.
Firefighters rushed to searched the river overnight, with underwater units, helicopters and drone teams scouring the area.
At least 155mm of rain fell in Barcelona on Saturday in just two or three hours, according to AEMET. In Navarra, 97mm of rainfall was recorded. Heavy rain was also recorded in Zaragoza and Girona.
The earthquake came just a day after Spain was battered by heavy rain and flash flooding (Catalonia Firefighters)
Footage showed vehicles trapped under murky water, with some vehicles swept away by rivers flowing down streets.
One video captured cars drifting along the swollen El Cardener river after it burst its banks, while others were seen completely submerged.
Rosa Montserrat Fonoll, mayor of Cubelles, said: 'I've never seen anything like this in Cubelles'. She added that 200 cubic meters per second flowed through the town.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
3 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Barcelona residents fear sea level rise is swallowing their beloved beaches
MONTGAT, Spain (AP) — Ana García rents a shack at a beach just north of Barcelona every year, spending two months there in the summer with her daughter. But García fears summers by the sea in Montgat, about a 30-minute drive from central Barcelona, eventually could be numbered. Storms and sea level rise driven by climate change are eroding the man-made beaches in metropolitan Barcelona, with the sea swallowing swathes of coastline every year, authorities say. Compared to natural coastlines, man-made beaches erode faster. Montgat's coastline has eroded especially fast, locals and authorities say. 'Clearly, this is worrying,' García said. 'Because it's increasing more and more, and shows no signs of stopping. Our coexistence with the sea here is in danger.' From fishing town to summering spot The fishing town turned summering spot is no stranger to change. Fishing was once the main economic activity in the 'Maresme,' or marshlands, north of Barcelona, but everything changed in 1986 when Spain's second-largest city was named the host of the 1992 Olympic Games. Where once there were just rocks, breakwaters and thin stretches of sand, several new beaches were constructed, helping turn the city into one of Europe's premier tourism hotspots. Climate change is threatening that transformation in small coastal towns like Montgat by intensifying storms that erode coastline and driving sea-level rise. While authorities have responded by replacing the lost sand and building some breakwaters, the efforts haven't kept pace with the coastline's erosion. Ramon Torra, manager of Barcelona's Metropolitan Area, acknowledges that simply adding more sand isn't enough. 'What we must do first isn't just replenish the sand, but rather stop the loss of it,' Torra said. 'In the case of the 'Maresme' region here, we are talking about structures such as breakwaters because they confine the beach.' When storms erode coastline Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service. As the planet warms, sea levels rise, largely due to the melting of glaciers and the thermal expansion of seawater as it grows warmer. That increases the risk of coastal flooding and storm surges that lead to land loss. At Montgat and nearby beaches, the main damage takes place in the fall and winter, when destructive weather systems known locally by the Spanish acronym DANA bring powerful storms to southern Europe. The storms have wreaked havoc on Montgat's coastline in recent years. In April 2024, a storm system brought waves that climbed as high as 5 meters (16 feet) tall and left parts of Montgat virtually without a beach. Afterward, a line of rocks serving as a breakwater was built after the waves reached a line of beachfront houses. Montgat Mayor Andreu Absil reckons only a third of the beach survived from a year ago. He stressed the importance of the beach for locals. 'The beaches are the last democratic space we have,' Absil said. 'And they should be for all of us to use and enjoy all year long.' Locals, scientists and business owners worry about the future Barcelona's authorities estimate 60 million euros ($70.2 million) are needed to stabilize the coastline in metropolitan Barcelona's 42 kilometers (26 miles) of coastline, 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) of which are beaches like Montgat. Add to that the yearly maintenance costs after storms. Scientists say the biggest problem will arrive when the sea reaches the town's infrastructure including the train line, homes and businesses. The rate of sea level rise portends more loss, academics say. Agustín Sánchez-Arcilla, a maritime engineer at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, said current trends show sea levels along the Catalan coast are four times higher today than three decades ago. He said it has risen by 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) in 25 years while waves are on average 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) higher. 'So we don't need to predict it will accelerate. We can say already it has multiplied by four since the 1990's,' he said, adding that he believes the time for climate adaptation is now. Those measures include building seawalls, planting vegetation as a barrier to the sea and more. Local business owners in the town depend on summer tourism and worry what could take hold when the sea swallows up more sand. Those who come year after year for the fresh seafood and cold beer share the concern. José Luís Vélez, a retiree, has been coming to the same beach bar for years, having witnessed the changes Montgat underwent after the '92 Olympics, as well as its coastline in retreat. 'It's been great but the sea has started to erode all the sand. And we aren't seeing people really doing something about it. So we think this could have an expiration date,' Vélez said. ___ Naishadham reported from Madrid.
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Ryder Cup Announces Spanish Venue for 2031 Edition
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. With the major season over, the Ryder Cup has become the main focus of the golf world. With two months to go until the American and European teams face off at Bethpage Black, event officials have decided to seize the moment to reveal an important decision. The Ryder Cup will return to Spain for its 2031 edition. The venue has been awarded to Camiral Golf & Wellness on the Costa Brava, near Barcelona. "The Ryder Cup has grown significantly since Spain last hosted it in 1997," said Guy Kinnings, DP World Tour's CEO, according to the Ryder Cup official website. "It is one of the world's leading sporting events, which brings significant economic benefits and global exposure to a host region and country, so we could not be happier to be taking it to Costa Brava and Barcelona for the first time, and to Spain for the second time." We're heading back to Spain for the first time since 1997 🇪🇺 — Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) July 22, 2025 José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, president of the Spanish government's Superior Sports Council, emphasized the significance of hosting this important event. "The Government of Spain welcomes the selection of Camiral as the host venue for the 2031 Ryder Cup — a global sporting event that will showcase our country to millions of viewers around the world," he said, according to the Ryder Cup official website. Camiral Golf & Wellness is recognized as the No. 1 golf resort in Spain. It features two golf courses: the Stadium Course, which will host the Ryder Cup in 2031, and the Tour Golf Course. The Stadium Course opened in 1999 and is currently ranked among the top 10 in Europe and among the top 100 in the world. It currently has a length of 7,300 yards and is par 72. The Ryder Cup is shown on the ninth hole during the European team photo shoot prior to the start of the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club on September 16, 2008 in Louisville, Kentucky. The Ryder Cup is shown on the ninth hole during the European team photo shoot prior to the start of the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club on September 16, 2008 in Louisville, will be the second time Spain has hosted the Ryder Cup. The event debuted in the country in 1997, played at the Valderrama Golf Club in Andalusia with legendary Spanish player Seve Ballesteros captaining the European team and Tom Kite leading the Americans. The Europeans won the event 14.5 to 13.5, with a spectacular performance by Colin Montgomerie, who earned 3.5 points in five matches. It was Europe's fifth victory since they began competing as a continent in 1979. Spain also hosted the 2023 Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin in Andalusia. The event ended in a tie, with the European team retaining the trophy they had won two years earlier in Inverness. More Golf: The Open: Scottie Scheffler Sets Multiple Records With Fourth Major Title
New York Post
6 hours ago
- New York Post
Babbel might be the reason a French barista falls in love with you
Discover startups, services, products and more from our partner StackCommerce. New York Post edits this content, and may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links. TL;DR: Use code LEARN at checkout to get a Babbel lifetime subscription for $159 through July 24 (reg. $599). Learning a language used to take years. Babbel just made it feel like the easiest part of your day, and the most fun way to flirt while traveling. Right now, you can save $90 on a lifetime subscription with code LEARN at checkout—but don't wait, this deal vanishes in just a few days. Babbel's quick, 10-15 minute lessons fit seamlessly into your day, so you can learn wherever and whenever—from coffee breaks to commutes. Whether you want to master Spanish for your next trip to Barcelona or tackle Norwegian just because it sounds cool, Babbel has your back. Plus, its speech-recognition technology helps with pronunciation and makes sure you sound like a local, not a lost tourist. This isn't just about vocab drills. Babbel covers real-life topics like ordering at restaurants, navigating cities, and meeting new people—all things you'll actually use when you travel. And because life doesn't always come with Wi-Fi, Babbel lets you download lessons for offline learning. So go ahead, give your brain a workout, impress your friends, and maybe even charm a local or two. Who knew learning a language could be this much fun? Until July 24 at 11:59 p.m. PT, this Babbel lifetime deal is just $159 with promo code LEARN—a steal compared to recurring subscriptions. StackSocial prices subject to change.
