The island of Tenerife has experienced a week of notable seismic activity, marked by several swarms of micro-earthquakes beneath the slopes of Teide National Park. These low-energy seismic pulses have surprised residents, highlighting the geological movements inherent to a volcanically active archipelago.
This Friday alone, the National Geographic Institute (IGN) recorded 12 earthquakes in the Canary Islands, 11 of which were located in Tenerife. The areas most affected by these low-intensity tremors, with magnitudes between 0.3 and 1.2, were Guía de Isora and Vilaflor, with a single event registered in La Orotava.
Of the 12 tremors recorded on Friday, only one exceeded a magnitude of 2, reaching 2.3. This event did not occur in Tenerife but in the Atlantic, east of Gran Canaria, at 13:33 hours.
“"On this latter [La Palma], low-magnitude seismicity remains, much lower than the seismicity observed during the 2021 eruption."
The Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands (Involcan), through its Canary Seismic Network, has registered a total of 1,248 low-magnitude earthquakes in the archipelago over the past week. The maximum magnitude recorded was 2.7, associated with an event on Sunday, June 21, northwest of Fuerteventura.
Involcan also reported that the earthquakes have been located mainly in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, El Hierro, and La Palma. Regarding La Palma, it notes that current seismicity is low-magnitude, considerably lower than that observed during the 2021 eruption.
The volcanic traffic lights for Tenerife, El Hierro, Lanzarote, and Gran Canaria remain green, indicating normal conditions. However, on La Palma, the traffic light stays yellow more than four years after the eruption ended, requiring attention to civil protection communications.
In anticipation of seismic events, although generally low-intensity in the islands, the IGN offers recommendations. It advises to drop, cover under a table, and hold on, maintain calm, and move away from furniture and windows indoors, and from buildings and power poles outdoors. When driving, it is recommended to stop in a safe place and remain in the vehicle. For wheelchair users, it advises to brake and protect the head, and in crowded places, to protect the head and take shelter under seats or tables.
