IRISH tourists may see their travel plans impacted after an airport roof collapsed amid a 5.4 magnitude earthquake in Spain.
The earthquake was felt in hundreds of towns and villages across seven provinces in Andalucia and the country’s Levante region.
The roof collapse is understood to have occurred around an hour after the first tremors were felt at 7.14am this morning.
Tiles from a suspended ceiling in a cafe in the departures lounge at Almeria Airport came down following the quake.
There are no reports of any injuries but the area where the material damage occurred has been cordoned off.
It was not immediately clear how many travellers had been in the cafe affected at the time.
A worker told local press: “We heard some noises one after the other and then a loud bang and a great cloud of dust appeared.
“It was a real scare for us.
“There were airport workers having their first coffee of the day but luckily no-one was injured.”
A Toyota showroom in Huercal de Almeria a 10-minute drive from the provincial capital Almeria also suffered roof damage.
And video footage taken by a local who felt the tremors showed a ceiling lightshade rocking back and forth in an apartment.
The effects of the earthquake on land were lessened by the fact it struck at a depth of around a mile and a half below sea level some 20 miles off the town of Nijar in Almeria.
It was more powerful than the catastrophic quake in Lorca in Murcia in 2011 which killed nine people but where the destruction was greater because it hit on land nearer the earth’s surface.
Quake expert Javier Fernandez Fraile said today: “If it had been near a city and closer to the surface it could have been far more destructive.”
Initial reports said the earthquake had been felt in around 300 places in seven provinces, and most intensely in 17 municipalities in Almeria as well as in parts of North Africa.
Health minister Olga Pane told Catalan News that they have evacuated and transferred 71 patients to different hospitals as part of their measures.
She said: “We have decided to evacuate and transfer the 71 patients to the hospitals of Sant Camil, Bellvitge, Igualada, Sant Boi, and Viladecans.”
TRAVEL ALERT FOR SPAIN
Authorities have issued the following advice to all residents and tourists in the affected area as they assess the damage caused by the earthquake.
They urged people to avoid damaged buildings and stay clear of cliffs and unstable structures, as they may be deemed unsafe as they need to be carefully checked for their structure after the natural event.
And people are encouraged to follow local emergency updates to stay on top of updates and advice to stay safe.
A mobile alert was also reportedly sent to residents in Almeria and Granada, warning of the quake.
The alert advised on what to do after an earthquake, including wearing shoes before moving around – even indoors – and checking for gas leaks.
The message also warned that aftershocks were possible.
The Embassy of Ireland in Madrid warned that the Spanish meteorological agency issued a red weather warning for parts of Spain.
They said: “The Spanish meteorological agency has issued a red rain warning for parts of Catalonia and Aragon.
“Irish citizens should follow the instructions of the local authorities. If you require consular assistance, please contact the Irish Embassy in Madrid on +34 914364093.”
