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Date Published: 24/03/2023

ARCHIVED - Three earthquakes in Torrevieja in the space of 24 hours

ARCHIVED ARTICLE -

They have been classified as “weak” in intensity, and bring the total number of earthquakes in Alicante so far this year to 26

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Three earthquakes in Torrevieja in the space of 24 hours

Late last night, at 11:48pm on Thursday March 23, the Vega Baja area of Alicante province registered an earthquake of magnitude 3.1, the third in 24 hours.

Some people reported being able to feel the quake in Torrevieja, Guardamar del Segura, Orihuela Costa, Los Montesinos, San Fulgencio and Rojales, as well as some areas of the Baix Vinalopó, such as Elche.

The epicentre was located ten kilometers deep, in the sea, in line with the Playa de La Mata beach, according to the National Geographic Institute (IGN).

Magnitude and intensity

According to the IGN, it has been perceived with an intensity of III (weak) on the European EMS scale due to a weak vibration that was perceived indoors and “people at rest feel a swaying or slight tremor”.

Magnitude is used to quantify the size of earthquakes – it measures the energy released during the rupture of a fault – while intensity is a qualitative description of their effects, mainly by people’s perception and possible damage.

The other two tremors in the last day occurred at 9am and 10:18pm, and had a magnitude of 2.3 and 1.5, respectively.

There have been 26 earthquakes recorded this year in the province of Alicante and this latest one comes just after Torrevieja marked the 194th anniversary of the earthquake that destroyed the city in 1829 – the largest one ever recorded in the locality.

The municipality organised a drill this Tuesday to simulate an earthquake situation and teach 12,000 students and schoolchildren what to do in case of an emergency.

Image: IGN

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