A magnitude 3.1 earthquake was recorded this Saturday afternoon in the sea between Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, as reported by the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia (ICGC).

Natural phenomena fascinate people: a solar eclipse scheduled for next August has everyone captivated, for months. Others are not so entertaining: an earthquake, in the early morning of May 15, 1851, caused damage to houses and churches in Mallorca and generated panic among the citizens of Palma, who fled to improvised shelters. We recall this episode as the 175th anniversary of the scare is celebrated.