The two earthquakes in Spain today (May 11) that killed several people and caused significant damage struck an area with a tame seismic history. Their shallow point of origin contributed to the deaths and destruction.

The quakes ripped masonry and bricks from buildings, according to the Associated Press.

The first quake, a magnitude 4.5, struck at 5:05 p.m. local time, and was followed by a stronger, 5.3 magnitude earthquake almost two hours later, at 6:47 p.m. [7 Ways the Earth Changes in the Blink of an Eye]

The quakes, which occurred along a yet-unidentified fault, were shallow, rupturing just over a half-mile (1 kilometer) below ground, said John Bellini, a geophysicist with U.S. Geological Survey.

"Earthquakes close to the surface cause the most of damage no matter what type of fault it is," Bellini told OurAmazingPlanet.

http://www.ouramazingplanet.com/earthquake-spain-coast-1509/

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