An earthquake with an epicenter to the South West of Chiclana struck at 10:29:03 (CEST local time) with a reported magnitude of 3.5 on the Richter scale. Wikipedia classifies this magnitude as 'light' where it is clearly felt but rarely likely to cause damage. The map shows the extent of the area where the tremors were felt. The Colorado area, shown as yellow on the map, felt the strongest tremors assessed as level 4. There have been several smaller quakes in the area this month but this is the first one that could be felt on land. See this link for a map showing all tremors in the last 10 days.

The latitude and longitude co-ordinates given on the Instituto Geográfico Nacional website place the epicenter in the salt flats just east of  Santi Petri harbour. It was located 14kms underground.

Did you feel the Earth move? Please use Have Your Say and let us know!

From Viva Chiclana 05.08.2010 Translated by Dave Fisher 

The City council of Chiclana, through the mayor, José María Román, outlined to the “Demarcación de Costas y la Agencia del Agua Andaluza” a series of measures so that the declared flood area of the Carrajolilla (Cerromolino) disappears.

The measure rotates around the use of an old existing floodgate in the area (the one that is in front of the property Los Morenos). The plan will also create a new bridge and a new flood plain that would not affect any housing. These measures, according to the first estimates, would change the risk of flooding where houses exist.

Translation By Vicky Atherton

Chiclana Town Hall was anxious to send out a message of calm to the citizens of the town by assuring them that a large number of houses built without a licence, which are located in areas prone to flooding, may be legalised under the classification of “fuera de ordenación” (outside the town plan). This exemption would, however, only apply if the house meets the 'minimum age' requirement stipulated by the Junta. That is to say that the rule would not apply to a newly built house.

In a recent press conference the town planning delegate Cándida Verdier also said that 'no further houses would be built on flood plains'. These areas, so classified in a recent study carried out by The Andalucian Water Agency, will from now on be categorised as land which cannot be urbanised.