Earthquake of Magnitude 4.1 Recorded with Epicenter in Cazalla (Seville) Felt in Four Provinces

In the early hours of Thursday, February 27, the National Geographic Institute (IGN) recorded an earthquake of magnitude 4.1 with its epicenter in the Sevillian town of Cazalla de la Sierra. The tremor was felt in nearly 200 municipalities across four provinces: Seville, Huelva, Córdoba, and Badajoz, with no reports of damage.

According to the IGN's social media, consulted by Europa Press, the earthquake occurred at approximately 03:29 (Spanish peninsular time) with its epicenter in Cazalla de la Sierra at a depth of 10 kilometers.

The mayor of Cazalla de la Sierra, Adrián Torres, stated that the earthquake was "quite felt" in the town, lasting "approximately ten or twelve seconds," and it "frightened" the population, who could feel "furniture moving."

In statements to Canal Sur Radio, collected by Europa Press, Torres indicated that there were no reports of material or personal damage, nor were there any residents who went out into the streets at dawn upon feeling the earthquake. He emphasized that such events "happen here once every few decades with this magnitude because it is not an area with significant and continuous seismic activity."

The earthquake was felt with greater intensity (III-IV) in 17 municipalities: Alanís, Cantillana, Cazalla de la Sierra, Constantina, Olivares, Alcalá del Río, San Nicolás del Puerto, Tocina, and Valencina de la Concepción in the province of Seville; Esparragosa de la Serena, Calzadilla de los Barros, Magacela, Malcocinado, and Talavera la Real in Badajoz; Hornachuelos and Fuente Obejuna in Córdoba; and Jabugo in Huelva.

With lesser intensity, it was felt in another 166 municipalities across these four provinces, in 32 of them with intensity III, in 59 with intensity II-III, and in another 75 with intensity II.

The IGN recorded an aftershock an hour later, around 04:50, with a magnitude of 1.7 and an epicenter in the Sevillian town of Constantina at a depth of three kilometers.

The emergency phone line 112 Andalucía received more than twenty calls regarding the earthquake from various points in the provinces of Seville (Lora del Río, Brenes, Constantina, Burguillos, Seville, Alanís, and Villanueva del Río y Minas), Huelva (Aracena, Jabugo, Santa Olalla del Cala), and Córdoba (Córdoba, Hornachuelos, and Palma del Río).

In the event of earthquakes, the 112 Andalucía emergency service recommends a series of preventive measures to reduce risks and contribute to public safety. All of these are included in the Didactic Guide with basic recommendations in case of seismic episodes.

Firstly, the Single Emergency Telephone advises citizens to remain calm and pay attention to the instructions of the authorities and organizations involved in resolving the emergency, communicated through their personnel on site or the media.

During the earthquake, it is most appropriate to stay where you are, whether inside a building or on the street, as entering and exiting buildings can lead to accidents. Inside a building, it is necessary to seek strong structures for shelter, such as a table or bed, under a door lintel, next to a pillar, a load-bearing wall, or in a corner.

After the tremor, if there is damage to the building you are in, 112 recommends leaving the building in an orderly and gradual manner via the stairs and, under no circumstances, using the elevator for evacuation. If you are outside, it is advisable to stay away from electrical cables, cornices, glass, and other elements that may break or fall due to the movement.

If the earthquake catches citizens in the middle of a journey inside a vehicle, it is necessary to stop it immediately where traffic allows and remain inside until the shaking ends. Once the tremor has passed, check that no one is injured and examine nearby people for any injuries. It is crucial to remember that seriously injured individuals should not be moved unless you know how to do so or in case of severe deterioration or imminent danger, such as fires or collapses.