Lauran O'Toole

A magnitude 5 earthquake struck near Alhendín, close to Granada, shortly after 1 a.m., with tremors recorded at depths of 2 and 10 kilometres. The quake caused structural damage, falling debris, cracks in roads and widespread panic, while emergency services rescued several people. Andalusian officials urged residents whose homes appeared undamaged to remain calm and avoid unnecessary movement in and out of buildings.

A heatwave that produced the UK's hottest day of the year so far is expected to give way to unsettled weather from August 21. Forecast maps suggest a 660-mile band of rain could affect much of the UK, with the heaviest totals in parts of Wales, western England and Scotland, including up to 49mm in south Wales and 84mm in the Scottish Highlands and Argyll and Bute. The Met Office expects a more changeable period with rain or showers, particularly in western and northwestern areas, while temperatures are likely to remain above average overall and drier conditions may return later in the month.

Thousands of people, including tourists and residents, were evacuated from wildfire-hit areas of Crete and Paros as strong winds fuelled fires across Greece. Three firefighters died, including two who became trapped in Crete and another found unconscious near Gytheio. The fires damaged homes and farmland, while Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned that difficult conditions remained. The crisis is part of a wider European wildfire season that has also forced hundreds of thousands to evacuate in Spain and France, prompting renewed warnings about the worsening climate emergency.