Spain’s National Geographical Institute said the quake struck at 5:22 am (0422 GMT) and had almost a dozen aftershocks, including two measuring 4.6 about three hours later.
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Malaga is an extremely popular holiday destination for Brits, with millions of us visiting every year.
The quake was felt not only along the Málaga coast of southern Spain, but also in several other Andalusian provinces around the coastline, including Almeria, Granada, Jaén, and Seville.
Sean de Bie said: “Oh my god!” Just felt my first natural disaster ever.
In Melilla, a Spanish enclave on the Moroccan coast, emergency services said they had received more than 200 calls from people warning of damage to properties.
Power was reportedly being restored in areas hit by blackouts.
“Some high buildings have cracks”, he said, adding that part of facades and balconies had collapsed.
Melilla has a population of some 85,000.
Initial USGS reports suggest there was “a low likelihood of casualties and damage”.
A major natural disaster of magnitude 6.6 has struck around 100 miles south-east of the popular Spanish tourist resort of Malaga.
In February 2004 a strong 6.3 natural disaster that hit near Al Hoceima killed almost 630 people.
YouTube user Elvark captured the exact moment it struck, saying: “Wow!”
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He posted a video of the tremor shaking his home, swinging light fittings and sloshing around the water in fish tanks.
