Tenerife continues to experience seismic activity, with the Canary Islands Seismic Network (INVOLCAN) reporting an additional 80 low-magnitude earthquakes on November 14th. This follows the swarm of seismic events recorded earlier the same day.
Most of these earthquakes occurred between 9:00pm and 11:00pm and were concentrated in the southwest area of the Las Cañadas caldera, at depths ranging from 5 to 10 kilometres. The largest recorded magnitude was 1.3 on the Richter scale.
Since the start of November 14th, a total of 124 volcano-tectonic events have been recorded, indicating increased activity within the island's subsurface systems. INVOLCAN explains that these events are part of a broader trend of volcanic-hydrothermal system pressurisation that began in 2016. This is attributed to the injection of magmatic fluids into the system beneath Tenerife.
INVOLCAN explain ongoing seismic activity
Despite the increase in seismic activity, INVOLCAN has clarified that these phenomena do not indicate an imminent volcanic eruption in the short or medium term. However, Tenerife remains a volcanically active island, with a 39.35% probability of a volcanic eruption occurring in the next 50 years.
INVOLCAN has committed to providing regular updates on seismic and volcanic activity across the Canary Islands, including Tenerife and La Palma. Weekly visual reports, known as GUAYOTA, summarise seismo-volcanic activity for the region and are available on INVOLCAN’s platforms.
Maps provided by INVOLCAN highlight the locations of recent earthquakes (marked in red) compared to seismic events recorded over the past year (marked in black). The ongoing activity highlights the importance of continuously monitoring Tenerife’s volcanic systems.
The Tenerife authorities remind residents and visitors to respect all safety measures related to seismic and volcanic risks. Entering restricted areas, such as those impacted by recent wildfires, without authorisation can result in fines of up to €600,000.
As Tenerife’s geological systems remain active, maintaining awareness and adhering to guidelines from experts like INVOLCAN will be essential for safety and preparedness.
