TEIDE UPDATE: Seismic Swarm of over 1,400 earthquakes in 14 hours
The latest seismic swarm registered in the western area of Las Cañadas del Teide has turned out to be almost twice as large as initially reported. Between 6pm on Monday and 8am on Tuesday, monitoring stations detected more than 1,400 small earthquakes, almost double the 755 initially reported by the National Geographic Institute (IGN).
IGN sources told the Efe News Agency that although the main burst of activity has passed, there are still “isolated signals” being recorded in the same area. This marks the eighth seismic swarm detected in this exact zone since 2016, following previous ones in October 2016, June 2019, June and July 2022, August and November 2024, and most recently a week ago on 12th February.
Scientists had already warned that the initial figure of 755 events was likely an underestimation, as many quakes were extremely weak and difficult to identify. A detailed review of the data has now confirmed the true total: over 1,400 hybrid earthquakes occurring 7–8 kilometres below the surface.
Involcan stresses: NO eruption expected in the short or medium term
Experts from the Canaries Volcanological Institute (Involcan) reiterate that the seismic activity does not indicate an imminent eruption. Their leading hypothesis is that the swarm was caused by gas emissions from magma accumulating in the island’s hydrothermal system, not by magma rising towards the surface.
The scientific committee of the Pevolca is meeting today to analyse the latest unusual signals detected by IGN’s monitoring stations.
Tenerife ‘more prepared than ever’, says island president
Rosa Dávila, president of the Tenerife Cabildo, reaffirmed yesterday that the island is “more prepared than ever” for any volcanic scenario. She highlighted the continuous surveillance in place and the close coordination with local councils.
Dávila stressed again that Teide is “the most closely monitored volcano in the world”, supported by a sophisticated network of sensors, including the newly acquired quantum gravimeters that can detect even the smallest movement of magma at depth.
Meetings with municipalities are ongoing to update emergency and self-protection plans. The next sessions will take place in Guía de Isora and Santiago del Teide, the two municipalities where eruption simulation drills will be held between October and November.
Plans for Spain’s National Volcanology Centre
Meanwhile, Migdalia Machín, regional councillor for Science and Innovation, said negotiations with the Spanish Government continue regarding the statutes of the future National Volcanology Centre. She argued that its long-term purpose should be clearly defined with expert input, comparing its strategic importance to the role played by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC).
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