Santa Cruz Council Prepares Official Contingency Plan in Case of Volcanic Eruption in Tenerife
The Santa Cruz City Council are assessing their capacity to home residents from other municipalities in the event of a volcanic eruption in Tenerife, as local authorities move to strengthen their capabilities and be prepared in case of an emergency situation.
The mayor of Santa Cruz, José Manuel Bermúdez, announced that a specialised technical department has been created to develop an action plan for a potential volcanic event.
While he stressed that the risk of the capital itself being directly affected by an eruption from Mount Teide is low, the city is preparing for the possibility of supporting other areas of Tenerife.
According to Bermúdez, Santa Cruz could play a key role in assisting nearby municipalities by hosting evacuees and ensuring the continuity of essential services such as water supply.
The newly formed department will advise the mayor by analysing possible scenarios, proposing preventive measures, and coordinating organisational and logistical responses should volcanic activity occur.
The mayor explained that the city’s ability to respond would depend largely on the scale of any eruption. For a “normal-scale” volcanic event, he believes the capital has sufficient infrastructure to accommodate evacuated residents. However, in the case of a much larger or exceptional eruption, the city’s capacity is less certain.
“We don’t know how it will happen, how it will develop, or when it might occur,” Bermúdez said, emphasising that the council is taking a preventive approach.
He added that scientists have indicated current volcanic developments on the island are “not something normal”, making it necessary to prepare for a wide range of possible scenarios in both timing and intensity.
The department will now work on planning measures to ensure Santa Cruz is ready to respond quickly and effectively if volcanic activity increases in Tenerife.
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