Canary Island earthquake measures 4.9 on Richter scale

THE most severe earthquake so far has once again struck to the west of the island of El Hierro at 11.00 GMT Sunday morning and regional authorities have declared a state of pre-emergency.

There is limited circulation on some roads due to the threat of rockfall and landslides.

The latest quake measured 4.9 on the Richter scale and volcanologists from the National Geographical Institute are monitoring the situation. They believe that another eruption underwater is highly possible nearer to La Frontera this time.  An hour earlier a quake measuring 4.5 hit the island and there have been over 100 tremours over the weekend. Both quakes were felt by residents.

Previously quakes of up to 4.3 were said to be ‘nothing to worry about’ as they were said to be between 12 and 20 kilometres underground.

Lorca (Murcia) was hit by an earthquake in May 2011 measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale which turned the city to rubble and left nine dead, dozens injured and thousands homeless. Experts said that the severity of it was largely due to the fact that it was only a kilometre underground, which heightened its intensity.