An earthquake sets off panic in Marina Alta

The Geographic Institute has confirmed the tremor that witnesses shared on Twitter last night. A strong seismic movement has caused fear in the Marina Alta. The earthquake occurred just before 10pm on Wednesday August 22.

The tremor of barely a second and 2.8 degrees on the Richter scale, has had an epicentre in Benitatxell and has also caused alarm in Xàbia, Teulada, Dénia and Pedreguer.

In Xábia, the Local Police are receiving a multitude of calls from neighbours that warn that they have heard a series of “explosions” and reported moving beds and furniture in the houses. Residents and tourists have taken to the streets scared, not knowing what was happening.

The neighbours have warned of a gas cylinder explosion and that a car has crashed into a house. The police switchboard has collapsed due to the large number of calls from scared people asking about what had happened.

Police sources have commented that they had no record of material or personal damages.