British Expats In Malaga Warned Over Earthquake Risks

British expats in Malaga are being warned over the city’s high seismic risk.

According to experts, the Spanish city of Malaga is at high risk of an earthquake and has developed an emergency plan as a result. The increased risk of seismic activity in the Costa del Sol region was highlighted in a seismic map released in 2015 by Spain’s National Institute of Geography which named the city the second most likely in Spain to experience an earthquake. Small tremors are often felt in the region, with the resulting five year plan setting out all necessary measures for dealing with the consequences of a larger quake.

It’s quite possible the news has come as a shock to many expats living and working in Malaga and its surroundings, as general awareness of the risk of earthquakes isn’t widespread in the region's foreign community. The plan includes the management, coordination and planning of every private and public service as well as the mobilisation of material and human resources should a catastrophe result.

As a result of the report, the local authority has undertaken a detailed analysis of the city’s buildings, some 52,000 in all, with comprehensive information including the year of construction, the condition of any conservation and all other relevant matters. Even so, the news will have come as a shock to many expats living, working or retiring in the popular Costa del Sol destination, especially those who’ve bought or built their homes in ignorance of the seismic risk. In addition, insurance policies will need careful checking for earthquake cover as well as other risks associated with seismic issues.