National
Earthquake felt by many across Spain
By h.b./m.p.
Aug 13, 2007 - 10:32 AM

Spain was hit by an earthquake at 9,47am on Sunday morning.

Centred on Ciudad Real, it measured 5.1 on the Richter Scale, and saw as many as 15 after-shocks.

Experts say that the centre of the tremor had been very near the surface, and for this reason the tremor was felt across nearly all of the country. For the same reason no reports of serious damage or personal injury have been noted.

The epicentre was at 39,36 degrees north y a 2,95 degrees west between the villages of Pedro Muñoz and Alcázar de San Juan.

The Monday edition of El Mundo newspaper reports meanwhile that construction safety regulations may have to be revised in the area affected, as it is a region considered to be seismically stable.

The paper says experts from the National Seismic Network, which comes under the Geographical Institute, will closely study the small aftershocks which followed the quake to decide if revisions of both the seismic map and construction regulations should be brought in.

Limits on construction materials and building height in areas considered as high-risk are not currently applicable in Spain’s central plain.

Only three earthquakes have previously been recorded in Ciudad Real: the worst was in 1755, and registered 4 on the Richter scale.