Residents in several municipalities across Tenerife and Gran Canaria experienced a noticeable tremor at around 12:26 p.m. on Thursday, after a magnitude 4.1 mbLg earthquake struck between the two islands. The event, confirmed by Spain’s Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN), occurred at a depth of approximately 10 kilometres beneath the seabed.
According to official data, the earthquake reached a maximum intensity of III–IV on the European Macroseismic Scale, meaning it was clearly felt indoors by many people but did not cause structural damage. The IGN has stressed that, based on current analysis, this tremor is not linked to the recent hybrid seismic swarms detected in Las Cañadas del Teide.
Epicentre in a well-known seismic zone
The epicentre was located in the area known as Volcán de Enmedio, an underwater volcanic structure situated roughly midway between Tenerife and Gran Canaria. This zone is considered one of the most seismically active in the Canary Islands.
In fact, the strongest earthquake recorded in the archipelago in recent years — magnitude 4.4 in 2019 — originated in the same area. Additional tremors measuring 3.7 were registered in 2022 and 2023, and a 3.6 event was recorded in 2024, confirming the recurrent nature of seismic activity along this submarine fault system.
Municipalities where the tremor was felt
In Tenerife, the earthquake was reported in Arico, La Laguna, Santa Cruz, Arafo, Los Realejos, Güímar, La Matanza, Candelaria, La Orotava, La Esperanza, El Rosario, Tacoronte, Arona, Granadilla and Santa Úrsula.
In Gran Canaria, residents in Gáldar, Agaete, La Aldea, Vega de San Mateo and Valsequillo also reported feeling the tremor. Witnesses described furniture shaking slightly and a brief vibration lasting a few seconds.
No link to Mount Teide’s recent activity
The Instituto Volcanológico de Canarias (Involcan) has ruled out any direct connection between this earthquake and the recent low-amplitude hybrid seismic activity recorded beneath Mount Teide. According to the institute, the processes are different in nature.
While minor hybrid events linked to hydrothermal fluid movement continue to be monitored beneath Tenerife’s volcanic system, the tectonic activity between Tenerife and Gran Canaria is part of the archipelago’s background seismicity. Experts emphasise that the Canary Islands experience moderate tectonic activity due to active faults running through and between the islands.
Historical perspective
Although Thursday’s tremor caused concern among residents, it remains moderate in comparison with past events. In 1989, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck offshore near Güímar at a depth of 15 kilometres, waking thousands of people across Tenerife in the early hours of the morning. That event, though frightening, caused no serious injuries.
Scientists underline that earthquakes of this magnitude are not unusual in the inter-island fault zone. Most are too weak to be noticed, though occasionally one reaches sufficient intensity to be felt by the population.
Authorities continue to monitor seismic activity closely, but at present there is no indication of increased volcanic risk associated with this latest event.
