Seismic swarm reported between Tenerife and Gran Canaria with more than 30 earthquakes

The Canary Islands Seismic Network, which is operated by INVOLCAN (the Canary Islands Volcano Institute), reported that they detected a seismic swarm between the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria yesterday (Friday) in the area of the Enmedio volcano where more quakes were reported on Monday.

It started at 12:30pm with more than 30 earthquakes detected in the area, most of them of low magnitude with the highest measured at 2.6 on the Richter scale.

They were also recorded at different depths with the shallowest ones being at a depth of just one kilometre, and the deepest at 46 kilometres.

The two earthquakes recorded in the strip of the so-called Enmedio volcano on Monday were of magnitude 3.4 with depths between 5 and 9 kilometres.

TECTONIC ACTIVITY:
INVOLCAN seismology experts explained that this type of seismic swarm is common in the area and is usually caused by tectonic activity.

They said: "In the Canary Islands, in addition to volcanic activity, there is also moderate seismic activity of tectonic origin. One of the most active seismic faults is between the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Along this fault, occasionally, earthquakes of magnitude equal to or greater than 5 can occur, such as the one on 9^th May 1989, which was widely felt on both islands.”