Minor earthquake in Sagra shakes wide stretch of Costa Blanca

Sagra recorded a 2.2-magnitude tremor that, despite its low intensity, was felt across much of the Costa Blanca. The ground shook once again in the Marina Alta in the early hours, according to the National Geographic Institute (IGN). Epicentre near the Riu Girona The tremor was detected at 00:41 on Thursday November 20 to the south-east of Sagra’s urban centre, with the epicentre located nine kilometres deep in an area close to the Riu Girona. A highly active autumn This incident marks the eighth tremor above 1.5 magnitude recorded this year in the Marina Alta. Previous movements were felt in Ondara (12 April, 2.3), Els Poblets (1 October, 1.8), the Moraira coastline (5 and 27 October, 2.1 and 2.0), the Vall d’Alcalà (12 and 24 October, 2.0 and 1.6), and Castells de Castells (24 October, 1.6). Seven of these occurred during the autumn. Mild but noticeable None of the quakes has caused damage, and most go unnoticed. However, more sensitive residents did feel the light tremor, which was also perceived in several coastal areas due to the quiet conditions at that hour. Seismic activity in Alicante So far this year, the IGN has registered 86 seismic events in the province of Alicante. On Sunday October 5, a quake measuring 2.5 on the Richter scale was recorded at 8.25pm, marking the second tremor above magnitude 1.5 in just four days, according to data from Spain’s National Geographic Institute (IGN). Pinpointing the exact location of the quake hasn’t been straightforward. Unlike previous occasions, the IGN did not identify a specific coastal municipality, simply noting that the tremor occurred in the “Mediterráneo-Levante Sur” area. However, based on the institute’s map, the epicentre appears to have been off the coasts of Benitachell and Teulada Moraira, at a depth of 17 kilometres. A region prone to micro-seismic activity Experts note that the Marina Alta is one of the areas with the highest micro-seismic activity in the south-east of Spain. Although these tremors rarely exceed low magnitudes, their frequency is not unusual. Specialists explain that the region’s geological structure — marked by small faults and fractured blocks — naturally favours this type of recurring movement. Similar patterns in recent tremors Regarding the previous quakes, the IGN reports a consistent pattern: shallow depth, moderate magnitude and dispersed epicentres between inland zones and the coastline. According to geologists, this behaviour is typical of regions that release energy continuously rather than accumulating it, which reduces the likelihood of stronger events. No sign of abnormal activity Seismologists stress that, despite public concern over the recent frequency of tremors, there is no indication of any abnormal increase in activity. They emphasise that these movements form part of the natural dynamics of the area and highlight that monitoring systems in the province are highly sensitive, able to detect even movements imperceptible to residents.