Earthquake Felt experiences from the greater Lorca, Spain area

Last update: May 12, 2011 at 4:54 pm by By

Our main article on this earthquake starts minutes after the first shaking. Read it here.

On this page you will find an overview of what people wrote to earthquake-report.com. Whenever you want to share your experience with the world, feel free to fill the form at the bottom of this page. We will be happy to publish also your ‘Felt’ experience.

Lorca earthquake Spain - Image courtesy carhire-murcia-spain.com

Felt report from Almendricos (MMI 5)
Happened yesterday afternoon, was quite frightening.  Was in the kitchen, the dishes rattled, the floor shook, the noise around was horrible…..the sky was a horrible color.  But at the time had no idea what had happened in Lorca, which is not that far away.  It was tragic to see what was happening to the people in Lorca, Mendez Hospital evacuated too, because of damage, as well as churches and other structural buildings. people were camping out in the parks last night as it was still going on. So far eight dead and many injured.  Just hope there are no more aftershocks…..my heart goes out the the people of Lorca.

Felt report from Roger Bennett from Totana
The second quake around 1800 hours was the strongest.  I was in the garden and could not stand and had to put my hand to the ground.  All the trees were shaking as far as I could see. There was a very loud and deep roaring noise.
I now know that in this situation there is nothing you can do to help yourself. My wife was inside the house and came out frightened, heavy furniture had moved away from the walls and pictures were not level. t 10.40 another aftershock of 4 to 5 secs of mid strength came. We did not sleep very well anticipating further quakes that did not come.
Roger Bennett
English resident
Totana

Felt report from Stuart Gladwell from Mazarron :
We felt 2 earthquakes in Mazarron. The second one was far stronger and lasted longer than the first. The room shook for about 5 seconds and there was a rumbling noise. Our sympathies are with the people of Lorca who have born the brunt of this.

Felt report from Mazarron (MMI V) :
Furniture such as cupboard and freestanding wardrobe fell over at flat in Mazarron.  Damage to outdoor area such as paving, walls and BBQ.  Nothing compared to the damage further inland.

Felt report from Caressa Jacobs Sardeman from Purias :
We are in Purias, 10 km from Lorca. We felt the shocks quite heavily. It is very scary!! My brother in law was in the Mercadona in Lorca and everything fell down, bottles, food but also parts of the ceiling. Everybody ran outside, a lot of panic and screaming.
Hope there are no more aftershocks. My heart goes out to the family of the dead and injured in Lorca…

Felt report from Wendy HUnter from Cartagena  :
I live near Cartagena and when the floor began to move underneath my feet after a loud rumbling noise I realized it was an earthquake and went out into the garden away from my house. All evening we have heard the sound of ambulances coming from Cartagena going to help in Lorca.The television news reports show the extensive damage and many people of Lorca and other towns are now unable to return to their homes. Our sympathy to all those affected especially to those who have lost loved ones in this tragedy.

Felt report from Alhama de Murcia  :
On Condado De Alhama, apartments shook for about 3 seconds. Could see the floor moving, very strange feeling. No damage.

Felt report from Costa Calida:
Lots of shocks over the years in this area, but nothing like the second shock this afternoon, glasses shaking, pots moving etc, but nothing compared to the loss and damage of all the affected families in Lorca – Stevie T

Felt report from Albacete (IV MMI) :
Ich war in Albacete. Hier spürte man das Erdbeben nicht so stark. Beängstgend war es trotzdem. Ich habe noch nie ein Erdbeben erlebt und schaute erstmal aus dem Fenster, ob irgendwelche Bauarbeiten stattfanden. Aber dafür war es zu ruhig. Als ich dann darauf kam, das es ein Erdbeben war kam Angst auf, weil ich nicht wusste ob es nur ein Vorbeben war. Nun kann ich mit den Menschen, die ein Erdbeben richtig schlimm erleben, mitfühlen. Meine Gedanken und Gebete sind bei ihnen

Felt report from Velez Rubio :
From Carole in Velez Rubio 21.30 – Felt both eathquakes especially the second one.  Lound rumbling and house shook.  My prayers are with those in Lorca

Felt report from Carol from the Velez Rubio area (MMI IV):
Riding my horse out on the campo between Velez Rubio and Heurcal Overa when first shock came ,did not realise what it was but my normally placid  Engish mare became very agitated.On return home the second shock came, my dog ran out of the house barking,car did a jig, horse returned to stable very rapidly!!!!!!! Carol

Felt report from Camposol Mazarron :
Twice on mass everyone ran from their homes in our street, still in shock the second quake hit for us it was more severe than the first. although several objects fell and broke, it is insignificant compared to those people who have lost loved ones. our hearts, and prayers go out to all who have suffered.

Felt report from Jean :
I live in Jaen city and I felt the earthquake.

Felt report from Oria :
My sofa shook back and forth

Felt report from Murcia :
I was in murcia capital at the time. Windows and doors shook for at least 30 seconds. Earth tremors are not uncommon here, but in the 15 years I’ve lived here the second quake was the strongest I’ve felt

Felt report from Buñol:
Sitting in my friends 2nd floor flat in Bunol near Valencia, felt the aftershocks. Bunol lies approx. 200 km from Lorca.

Felt report from Navalmoral de la Mata :
La persiana de mi habitación (5º piso) hizo un ligero sonido como “clack” y noté una pequeña oscilación (estaba sentado una silla con ruedas). La lámpara de mi habitación osciló con muy poca amplitud. Duró unos 2 segundos. Fue aproximadamente a las 18.55 (hora de Madrid).

Felt report from Lizzie Mckeown from Torrevieja :
we felt the earthquake in torrevieja.

Felt report from Rietje Swart from Aguilas :
I could feel it. It was scary. I felt te earth move. My symphatie is with the families in Lorca…
I live in Águilas.

Felt report from Richard  from Vera :
Just heard of the bad news – I am near Vera about 60km away…heard and felt the rumble and then the glasses in the cupbpard shook…not realise till later that it was as damaging. Thoughts are with the people of Lorca.

Country and location
?
Tell us where in which location you felt the earthquake
E-mail (only if you wish)
?
Your Email address might help us if we request for additional details about your experience. This field is NOT mandatory. It is up to you to give it or not.
?
People :
Felt by persons at rest, on upper floors or favorably placed.
?
People :
Felt indoors; hanging objects may swing, vibration similar to passing of light trucks, duration may be estimated, may not be recognized as an earthquake.
?
People :
Generally noticed indoors but not outside. Light sleepers may be awakened. Vibration may be likened to the passing of heavy traffic, or to the jolt of a heavy object falling or striking the building.
Fittings :
Doors and windows rattle. Glassware and crockery rattle. Liquids in open vessels may be slightly disturbed. Standing motorcars may rock.
Structures :
Walls and frames of buildings, and partitions and suspended ceilings in commercial buildings, may be heard to creak.
?
People :
Generally felt outside, and by almost everyone indoors. Most sleepers awakened. A few people alarmed.
Fittings :
Small unstable objects are displaced or upset. Some glassware and crockery may be broken. Hanging pictures knock against the wall. Open doors may swing. Cupboard doors secured by magnetic catches may open. Pendulum clocks stop, start, or change rate.
Structures :
Some large display windows cracked. A few earthenware toilet fixtures cracked.
?
People Felt by all. People and animals alarmed. Many run outside. Difficulty experienced in walking steadily.
Fittings :
Objects fall from shelves. Pictures fall from walls. Some furniture moved on smooth floors, some unsecured free-standing fireplaces moved. Glassware and crockery broken. Very unstable furniture overturned. Small church and school bells ring. Appliances move on bench or table tops. Filing cabinets or "easy glide" drawers may open (or shut).
Structures :
Slight damage to buildings with low standard. Some stucco or cement plaster falls. Large display windows broken. Damage to a few weak domestic chimneys, some may fall.
Environment :
Trees and bushes shake, or are heard to rustle. Loose material may be dislodged from sloping ground, e.g. existing slides, talus slopes, shingle slides.
?
People
General alarm. Difficulty experienced in standing. Noticed by motorcar drivers who may stop.
Fittings :
Large bells ring. Furniture moves on smooth floors, may move on carpeted floors. Substantial damage to fragile contents of buildings.
Structures :
Unreinforced stone and brick walls cracked. Low standard buildings cracked with some minor masonry falls. A few instances of damage to buildings of ordinary workmanship. Unbraced parapets, unbraced brick gables, and architectural ornaments fall. Roofing tiles, especially ridge tiles may be dislodged. Many unreinforced domestic chimneys damaged, often falling from roof-line. Water tanks Type I burst. A few instances of damage to brick veneers and plaster or cement-based linings. Unrestrained water cylinders (hot-water cylinders) may move and leak. Some common windows cracked. Suspended ceilings damaged.
Environment :
Water made turbid by stirred up mud. Small slides such as falls of sand and gravel banks, and small rock-falls from steep slopes and cuttings. Instances of settlement of unconsolidated or wet, or weak soils. Some fine cracks appear in sloping ground. A few instances of liquefaction (i.e. small water and sand ejections).
?
People Alarm may approach panic. Steering of motorcars greatly affected. Structures : Low standard buildings heavily damaged, some collapse. ordinary workmanship buildings damaged, some with partial collapse. Reinforced masonry or concrete buildings damaged in some cases. A few instances of damage to buildings and bridges designed and built to resist earthquakes. Monuments and pre-1976 elevated tanks and factory stacks twisted or brought down. Some pre-1965 infill masonry panels damaged. A few post-1980 brick veneers damaged. Decayed timber piles of houses damaged. Houses not secured to foundations may move. Most unreinforced domestic chimneys damaged, some below roof-line, many brought down. Environment : Cracks appear on steep slopes and in wet ground. Small to moderate slides in roadside cuttings and unsupported excavations. Small water and sand ejections and localized lateral spreading adjacent to streams, canals, lakes, etc.
?
Structures Many low standard buildings destroyed. Ordinary workmanship buildings heavily damaged, some collapse. Reinforced masonry or concrete buildings damaged, some with partial collapse. Buildings and bridges designed and built to resist earthquakes damaged in some cases, some with flexible frames seriously damaged. Damage or permanent distortion to some buildings and bridges, designed and built to normal use standards. Houses not secured to foundations shifted off. Brick veneers fall and expose frames. Environment : Cracking of ground conspicuous. Landsliding general on steep slopes. Liquefaction effects intensified and more widespread, with large lateral spreading and flow sliding adjacent to streams, canals, lakes, etc.
Write your experience and/or additional text here : ?
Please describe what you have experienced with your own words. Other languages are also accepted.

Comments Closed

Comments

  1. alina says:
    September 21, 2011 at 3:20 pm

    i pray every thing be all right