Small seismic swarm detected off the east coast of Tenerife
The National Geographic Institute (IGN) has reported a new series of volcano-tectonic earthquakes off the east coast of Tenerife, recorded during Thursday night and Friday morning (17 October 2025).
Most tremors were located off the municipality of Fasnia at an average depth of around 25km below sea level, with magnitudes between 0.8 and 2.2 on the Richter scale. In total, 15 quakes were detected, nine of which could be precisely located, according to IGN data.
The largest event, magnitude 2.2 mbLg, occurred at 7:39am on Friday to the southeast of Fasnia at an estimated depth of 24km. Other notable quakes in the same area registered magnitudes of 1.7 mbLg at 5:53am and 10:26pm on Thursday at depths of 25–27km. A further 1.6 mbLg quake was detected east of Arico at 10:37am on Friday at a depth of 26km.
What are volcano-tectonic earthquakes?
These events are caused by fracturing in the crust linked to internal stresses associated with volcanic processes. They often appear in swarms during magma intrusion or gas accumulation underground. While they can be part of normal background activity in volcanic islands, they do not necessarily indicate that an eruption is imminent.
IGN continues to monitor seismicity in the Canary Islands in real time and updates its records as new events are detected. As of now, no damage has been reported and daily life on the island continues as normal. Tourists and residents are advised to follow official updates from IGN and local authorities.
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