A 5.4 magnitude earthquake rocked southern Spain early Monday morning, triggering widespread panic and property damage, including a dramatic ceiling collapse at Almeria Airport. The tremor, which struck at approximately 7:14 am local time, sent shockwaves across key regions, including popular tourist destinations like Costadel Sol, Granada, and Alicante.
Roughly an hour after the initial tremors were felt, part of the suspended ceiling in a cafe located in the departures lounge of Almería Airport came crashing down. According to eyewitnesses, the incident unfolded suddenly and dramatically.
“We heard some noises one after the other, and then a loud bang and a great cloud of dust appeared,” an airport employee told local media. “It was a real scare for us. There were airport workers having their first coffee of the day, but luckily, no one was injured.”
🌍 SHAKEN AWAKE: 5.2 EARTHQUAKE NEAR ALMERÍA, SPAIN 🌍
Good morning everyone,
This morning started with more than just a coffee jolt for parts of southeastern Spain, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck off the coast near Almería, with the epicentre located in the Mediterranean… pic.twitter.com/XKRrMCbYbM
— Kernow Weather Team (@KWTWeather) July 14, 2025
In Almería, aside from the airport damage, a local car dealership also sustained structural harm. Buildings in the region were temporarily evacuated as safety checks were initiated.
The earthquake coincided with heavy rainfall across various parts of the country, adding further distress to residents. In Barcelona, 155 mm of rainfall was recorded within a few hours over the weekend, causing widespread flooding. Navarre saw 97 mm, while Zaragoza and Girona also experienced torrential downpours.
Rosa Montserrat Fonoll, the mayor of Cubelles, expressed shock at the devastation: “I have never seen anything like this in Cubelles,” she said. “More than 200 cubic meters of water per second flowed through the city.”
Emergency services continue to assess the full extent of the damage from both the earthquake and the flooding. Authorities are urging residents and travellers to remain cautious and follow updates from local officials.
