Two earthquakes recorded in Murcia during the early hours

The earthquakes measured 3.1 and 3 and were recorded just a few hours apart

Two earthquakes were recorded in the Region of Murcia during the early hours of Wednesday September 30, both in the same area south of Beniel. The first happened at 2.04 am and measured 3.1, with its epicentre close to Cabezo de la Plata. The Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN) recorded the earthquake at a depth of 3 kilometres.

Five people called the 112 emergency service after feeling the tremor, but reported no damage.

A second earthquake followed at 6.31 am, again with its epicentre in the same area. This one measured 3.0 and was recorded at a depth of 6 kilometres. Another eight calls were made to 112 by people who felt the rumbling beneath the earth, bringing the total number of calls linked to the two earthquakes to 13. No reports of damage followed either tremor.

The earthquakes come just five days after another tremor was recorded in the Region. Last Friday, September 25, a 3.5-magnitude earthquake was recorded at 11.04 am. It was felt across a larger part of Murcia, partly because it happened during the day when more people were awake and going about their normal routines.

This morning's two earthquakes were both centred around the Beniel and Cabezo de la Plata area, close to the border with Alicante. The first was particularly shallow at just 3 kilometres below the surface, and was experienced in towns along the Mar Menor area like San Pedro del Pinatar. Earthquakes of this size don't normally cause damage, although they can certainly be noticeable when you're close to the epicentre.

Image: IGN