Seismic activity beneath Mount Teide continues to be closely monitored by specialists. Spain’s Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN) has confirmed the detection of a new swarm of hybrid seismic events that began on the afternoon of Monday, 16 February, reaching peak intensity during the early hours of Tuesday in the western sector of Las Cañadas del Teide.
According to the latest update, analysts have identified a total of 755 hybrid earthquakes linked to this episode. However, the IGN has stressed that the real number could be higher, as many of the signals recorded are extremely weak and difficult to distinguish clearly, making precise counting complex.
Timeline of the seismic episode
The swarm first became noticeable at around 6:00 p.m., initially with very low-magnitude events. As the evening progressed, the activity evolved through several distinct phases:
- Late evening (8:00–9:30 p.m.): Seismic records became clearer and more technically defined, allowing specialists to better characterise the signals.
- From 11:14 p.m. onwards: A shift in wave patterns was observed. Events became more frequent, though generally of lower energy.
- Early Tuesday morning (from 6:00 a.m.): Activity gradually decreased until becoming almost imperceptible to monitoring instruments.
Throughout the sequence, magnitudes have remained below 0.8 mbLg. These values classify the earthquakes as microseismic events, entirely imperceptible to the population and detectable only through specialised equipment.
Depth and previous episodes
Data analysis places the swarm at a depth of between seven and eight kilometres beneath the surface. This zone is known for recurrent seismic activity and has experienced similar swarms in 2016, 2019, 2022 and twice during 2024. Comparable movement was also recorded on 12 February this year in the same area.
Low-frequency events of greater energy
In addition to the hybrid events, the IGN has detected intermittent low-frequency (LP) earthquakes, which are typically associated with volcanic systems. The most significant of the night occurred at 04:18 a.m., registering the greatest amplitude within the entire series.
Such low-frequency signals are not unusual in active volcanic environments. Specialists emphasise that these phenomena are being continuously monitored as part of routine volcanic surveillance on Tenerife.
Despite the elevated number of recorded events, authorities underline that the magnitudes remain low and that there is no perceptible impact on residents. Monitoring efforts remain ongoing to track any further developments beneath Mount Teide.
