The Canary Islands Volcanological Institute (Involcan) has responded to the question on many residents’ minds following a recent cluster of tremors between Tenerife and Gran Canaria: is this normal?
According to the institute, several earthquakes have indeed been recorded between the two islands in recent days — some of them perceptible to the population — but scientists emphasise that this activity is neither abnormal nor linked to volcanic unrest.
Slight Seismic Increase, But No Cause for Alarm
Between Thursday 16 and Sunday 19 October 2025, Involcan detected a small seismic swarm off the coast of Las Eras (Tenerife), consisting of more than 15 minor earthquakes, none exceeding magnitude 2.0. The events were located at depths of 15 to 25 kilometres.
Subsequently, on Saturday 18 October at 9:17 p.m., another earthquake measuring 2.8 occurred between Tenerife and Gran Canaria, at an approximate depth of 26 kilometres. In the same area, on Tuesday 21 October, at almost the exact same time, a similar tremor of magnitude 2.7 was recorded, with its hypocentre located at 23 kilometres.
Additionally, between 4:08 a.m. and 9:02 p.m. on Monday 20 October, six small earthquakes were registered near Agaete (Gran Canaria), the most intense of which reached magnitude 2.2, occurring at an approximate depth of 2 kilometres.
Context: A Region with Constant Seismic Activity
Involcan highlights that over the past five years, the average weekly number of earthquakes has been:
- 26.8 in Tenerife,
- 1.1 in Gran Canaria, and
- 8.1 in the channel between the two islands.
Therefore, while the current figures are slightly above average, the institute stresses that the activity is within normal parameters and does not suggest any imminent risk.
The Canary Islands lie on the African tectonic plate, crossed by numerous faults that make low-level seismic activity a regular occurrence. Although most tremors are imperceptible, some can be felt, as happened on 9 May 1989, when a magnitude 5.2 earthquake between Tenerife and Gran Canaria was clearly felt across both islands.
