Seismogenic faults in the Region of Murcia

The main seismogenic faults in the Region of Murcia are the Alhama de Murcia, Cieza-Bullas-Alicante and Vega Media del Segura faults. The Region of Murcia is located within the area of the Cordilleras Béticas, and materials belonging to the three zones that are traditionally divided into Prebética and Subbética (external zones) and Bética (internal zones) are represented in it; the first has a para-autochthonous character and the other two allochthonous.

Alhama de Murcia Fault (FAM)

A very active fault in the Region of Murcia is the Alhama de Murcia fault (also known as Alcantarilla-Alhama-Puerto Lumbreras), located between the north of the Guadalentín valley and Puerto Lumbreras.

It stays in motion almost continuously, causing small movements. Which, despite the damage that occurs in the buildings, is a good sign because this way the energy is released little by little.

Murcia has suffered 12 earthquakes in the last 5 years due to the Alhama fault.

The branch where the most earthquakes are concentrated is in the El Amarguillo Fault.

The Alhama fault caused on May 11, 2011 two earthquakes measuring 4.7 and 5.1 on the Richter scale with an epicenter near the city of Lorca, in Barranco Hondo (Lorca) that caused numerous material damages and claimed the lives of nine people.

Carrascoy Fault (CAF)

A large tremor on a fault could wake up the next fault it's aligned with; and within the Region, Romero indicates, the Alhama de Murcia Fault, where Lorca is located, aligns with the Carrascoy Fault, located in the Sierra de Carrascoy.

Falla Crevillente (FC) - Campo Coy

Another more dormant and dangerous fault is the Bullas-Cieza-Alicante fault, to which the Crevillente Fault, Campo Coy Segment belongs.

It has remained inactive for a long time and woke up energetically on December 2, 1999 with the Mula earthquake and, closer in time, on August 6, 2002 with the one in the district of La Paca (Lorca)..

Faults of Vega Media

The last one also active, although in a different direction from the previous ones, is that of Vega Media del Segura (Lorquí, Ceutí, Molina de Segura and Las Torres de Cotillas), called the Crevillente Fault (Fortuna segment -Abanilla) and adjacent faults of the Segura valley.

Socovos (FS)-Calasparra Fault (Calasparra segment)

The 1948 Cehegín earthquake has been interpreted as generated by a sinistral NE-SW striker fault.

Other failures with repercussions in the Region of Murcia

• Lower Segura (FBS) or Orihuela Falla
• Palomares Fall (FP)
• Judgement of San Miguel de Salinas (FSM)
• Falla de Torrevieja (FT)