Murcia earthquake: 3.9 magnitude tremor near Librilla felt across region, no injuries

A magnitude 3.9 earthquake rattled the Murcia region of southeastern Spain at 11:59 a.m. local time on Sunday, 2 August 2026. The shallow tremor, with its epicentre initially placed near Librilla and later refined to Pliego, was felt across central Murcia, including the capital city roughly 30 kilometres away. Despite the widespread shaking, no injuries or structural damage were reported.

Seismic measurements

The Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN) fixed the official magnitude at 3.9 and the depth at five kilometres. In the minutes after the quake, Google's Android earthquake alerts system briefly estimated a magnitude of 4.5 before revising downward to 4.0. One news report cited an initial reading of 4.4. The IGN later adjusted the epicentre from Librilla to the neighbouring municipality of Pliego, the regional 1-1-2 emergency centre said. The shallow depth of five kilometres, with one source noting six kilometres, likely contributed to the tremor being felt across a wide area. The IGN combines data from its network of seismographs with citizen reports submitted through a macroseismic questionnaire to evaluate intensity and potential damage.

Emergency response

The Region of Murcia's 1-1-2 emergency coordination centre fielded more than 90 calls from residents. Authorities activated the Special Civil Protection Plan for Seismic Risk (SISMIMUR) at pre-emergency level, known as Situation 0. This phase keeps the operational coordination centre (CECOP) on alert for possible aftershocks without deploying the full emergency structure, focusing instead on information gathering and monitoring. An ES-Alert message was pushed to mobile phones in central Murcia around midday, warning of possible tremors and estimating a magnitude of 4.5.

Where it was felt

The tremor was perceptible in several towns. The IGN's macroseismic questionnaire, a tool introduced by King Ferdinand VI after the devastating 1755 Lisbon earthquake, allows residents to report what they felt. The questionnaire asks residents what they were doing during the tremor, how they reacted, and whether surrounding objects moved. Early reports indicated shaking in Alhama de Murcia, Albudeite, Campos del Río, and more lightly in Lorca, Orihuela, and Molina de Segura. In the city of Murcia, the shaking lasted several seconds.

No damage

All official sources confirmed that no personal injuries or material damage had been recorded as of early afternoon. The IGN stated that no damage was expected given the low intensity, though the questionnaire data would help refine impact assessments.

Seismic context

Sunday's earthquake is the strongest in the region in six months, exceeding a magnitude 2.3 event on 3 June 2026. Over the past week, seven tremors have been detected, and 21 so far this month. The region's most destructive recent quake remains the 2011 Lorca earthquake, a magnitude 5.1 event that killed nine people, injured 324, and heavily damaged public buildings, homes, and historic heritage, particularly in the La Viña neighbourhood and the historic centre.