A moderate earthquake centered near the historic city of Granada in southern Spain has left at least three people lightly injured and forced several facilities to close, including the UNESCO-listed Alhambra palace.

A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck southern Spain on Tuesday morning, with its epicenter located approximately 10 kilometers south of Granada near the town of Alhendín, according to Spain's National Geographic Institute (IGN). The tremor occurred at 10:37 local time at a shallow depth of under 10 kilometers and resulted in at least three light injuries, while numerous buildings sustained damage across the region.

The earthquake prompted immediate responses from concerned residents, with many rushing into streets fearing additional aftershocks. Local infrastructure was affected, with vehicles damaged by falling debris and several public facilities forced to close temporarily, including museums, administrative buildings, and sports centers. Granada's metro system reduced train speeds to 30 kilometers per hour as a precautionary measure, which officials warned could cause service delays.

The tremor represented the most significant in a series of shallow earthquakes that have affected the area since the previous Friday, with residents noting the intensity exceeded typical seismic activity in the region. Cristina Ruiz Lopez, a laboratory worker present at a supermarket in Granada during the quake, described the experience as terrifying, while another resident reported that "everything came crashing down." The UNESCO World Heritage Site Alhambra palace, a renowned medieval Islamic fortress that attracts millions of international visitors annually, closed for the afternoon following the earthquake.

Authorities have not yet released detailed assessments of overall damage or provided updates on the likelihood of significant aftershocks.