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A powerful 5.4 magnitude earthquake has rocked southern Spain early Monday morning, causing part of the roof at Almeria Airport to collapse and sparking widespread panic across the Andalucia region.
The tremor struck just after 7:14am local time, with its epicentre around 20 miles from Níjar, at a depth of just 2.5km below sea level, making it particularly noticeable.
Departures Lounge Roof Collapses
Roughly an hour after the quake, the ceiling of a café in the airport’s departures lounge gave way, showering debris and creating a large dust cloud. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
“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,” said an airport worker.
The Spanish airport authority AENA confirmed the café had already been closed as a precaution, and stressed that the collapse did not occur during the tremor itself, but later.
Damage Reported Across Almeria
In addition to the airport, a roof at a Toyota showroom just 10 minutes away was also damaged, and video clips circulating online show ceiling fixtures swaying violently in homes across the region.
The earthquake was felt widely across seven provinces, affecting communities in Andalucia and the Levante.
Expert Warnings
Earthquake specialist Javier Fernandez Fraile noted:
“If it had been closer to a city or shallower, this could have been far more destructive.”
The 2011 Murcia earthquake, which killed nine people, remains one of the deadliest in recent Spanish history.
Travel Impact
While no flights have been cancelled at Almeria Airport as a direct result of the quake, the affected café remains cordoned off, and engineers are assessing structural damage.
Travellers are advised to check with their airlines for any service updates.
Recent Airport Structural Issues
This incident comes just weeks after a roof collapsed in Palma Airport’s arrivals lounge on 24 June. AENA blamed the previous collapse on a negligent contractor violating safety guidelines during renovation.
Officials Urge Caution
Authorities are urging residents and tourists to remain alert, especially with aftershocks possible in the coming hours.
There is currently no tsunami threat, and Spain’s Civil Protection agency continues to monitor the region.
