An earthquake measuring 3.4 mbLg was recorded on Saturday evening between Tenerife and Gran Canaria, and was felt by residents in several northern areas of Tenerife, including La Orotava, La Laguna, and Los Realejos.
According to the National Geographic Institute (IGN), the tremor occurred at 8:17 p.m. at a depth of 29 kilometres, slightly farther offshore than the earthquakes recorded in the ongoing seismic series off the coast of Fasnia, which began last Thursday.
A Growing Seismic Series Off Tenerife’s East Coast
Since the start of the sequence, the IGN has recorded 55 earthquakes along the coast of Fasnia and Arico, a region not typically associated with high seismic activity. As of Saturday morning, 40 low-intensity tremors had already been documented, with 12 more added later in the day.
Itahiza Domínguez, director of the IGN in the Canary Islands, confirmed that these are volcano-tectonic events, caused by the movement and fracturing of rock, unlike the long-period events linked to magmatic fluids such as those sometimes recorded beneath El Teide.
Domínguez reassured the public that the tremors “are not worrying” and do not suggest magmatic intrusion into the island’s subsurface. However, he added, “we will have to see how it evolves and whether it intensifies.”
“A Peculiar Seismic Series”
The IGN acknowledges that the current seismic activity is unusual due to its persistence. Typically, such clusters of earthquakes last only a few hours, but this one has continued for several days.
Domínguez described the recent events as “very scattered”, noting that the area off Fasnia and Arico is not one of the most common zones for seismic activity, which warrants close scientific monitoring.
He emphasised that the situation remains stable, and that both IGN and Involcan are continuously monitoring the region. For now, no additional emergency measures are needed.
“If the number and magnitude of quakes were to increase rapidly — as happened before the 2021 La Palma eruption — we would convene a crisis committee. But at this point, the data does not indicate such a development,” Domínguez concluded.
Specific details of the event
- Magnitude: 3.4 mbLg
- Location: Between Tenerife and Gran Canaria
- Depth: 29 km
- Areas where felt: La Orotava, La Laguna, Los Realejos
- Total events near Fasnia since Thursday: 55
- IGN assessment: Non-threatening, but persistent and under observation
The IGN reiterates that, while this seismic series is “peculiar for its duration,” it remains within expected tectonic activity levels for the Canary Islands and poses no immediate risk to the population.
