The National Geographic Institute (IGN) has issued an official alert to the Canary Islands Government’s Civil Protection Service after detecting a notable increase in seismic activity beneath Tenerife in recent hours. Although the number of recorded events has risen significantly, the institute has reiterated that the current activity does not indicate an increased likelihood of a volcanic eruption in either the short or medium term.
According to the IGN, monitoring systems have registered an intensification of seismic-volcanic activity beneath the island, particularly to the west of Las Cañadas del Teide, where 221 low-frequency seismic events have been detected over the past 48 hours.
The latest episode follows several days of increased underground activity. Between the early hours of Saturday and Sunday, and again during the early hours of Monday, several bursts of low-frequency seismic signals were recorded in the same area that has shown persistent activity over recent months. One of the most significant bursts occurred at 2:07 a.m. on Monday, prompting the IGN to activate its established notification procedures.
Alert Sent in Line with Established Protocols
The institute confirmed that, in accordance with its standard operating procedures, the information was immediately communicated to the Civil Protection authorities so that emergency services would be aware of the latest developments.
Sources from the IGN consulted by the Spanish news agency EFE explained that this type of notification is not unusual and has been issued on previous occasions whenever monitoring data has warranted it. However, they noted that earlier alerts had not previously become public knowledge.
During the latest phase of activity, scientists identified several different types of seismic events, including conventional volcano-tectonic earthquakes, hybrid events and low-frequency (LP) events. Researchers point out that these different signals display a strong temporal correlation, suggesting that they form part of the same geological process occurring beneath the island.
Despite the increased activity, none of the recorded events were felt by residents, as their magnitudes remained extremely low.
Similar Activity Was Already Detected Last Week
The latest seismic swarm follows an earlier sequence of earthquakes recorded between Thursday and Friday, when the IGN detected 79 seismic events in the same area. Taken together with the more recent activity, the number of recorded earthquakes has continued to rise over recent days.
According to the institute, the earthquakes share remarkably similar characteristics. All have magnitudes of less than 2.0 MbLg, while most epicentres are concentrated in the western sector of Las Cañadas del Teide, particularly beneath the municipalities of Guía de Isora, Vilaflor de Chasna, Fasnia and Santiago del Teide.
The majority of the earthquakes originated at depths of between 10 and 15 kilometres below sea level, consistent with previous seismic episodes recorded beneath the island.
Activity Comparable to Earlier Episodes
Scientists at the IGN emphasise that the current pattern closely resembles the periods of increased seismic activity observed in February and March, which likewise did not result in any volcanic eruption or significant changes to the island’s volcanic system.
The institute also stresses that the figures released so far remain provisional. Because many of the recorded seismic signals have very low amplitudes, specialists are continuing to analyse the data in greater detail. As this work progresses, the total number of identified events may increase, while more precise information regarding their magnitudes and depths will be incorporated into the IGN’s official earthquake catalogue.
For the time being, the volcanic monitoring network continues to maintain constant surveillance of Tenerife, and experts reiterate that there is no evidence suggesting an increase in volcanic danger to the population. Authorities continue to recommend following official information issued by scientific institutions and avoiding speculation or alarmist interpretations regarding the current seismic activity.
