The recent A dozen earthquakes recorded under Las Cañadas del Teide This has put Tenerife back in the media spotlight, after several weeks marked by the seismic swarms of February. Although the word volcano always inspires a certain amount of respect, experts insist that what is being observed falls within the normal activity of a volcano. active and monitored volcanic system, without any clear sign of an imminent eruption.
In the last few hours, the National Geographic Institute (IGN) and scientific organizations Those monitoring the island have detailed what is known so far: it is small earthquakes, located several kilometers deepThese changes have not been felt by the population and, on their own, do not imply an immediate change in the risk level. Even so, the authorities are maintaining very close surveillance to detect any developments.
A dozen earthquakes beneath Las Cañadas del Teide
According to data from the IGN, in a period of a few hours, the following have been located twelve earthquakes beneath Las Cañadas del Teidein the central area of Tenerife. These events have come after almost a week of relative calm, once the seventh seismic swarm detected in that area during the month of February.
The earthquakes were recorded approximately between 9:45 p.m. on a Tuesday and 6:00 a.m. the following dayThat is, concentrated during the nighttime hours. Preliminary analysis places their hypocenters between 8 and 14 kilometers deepThis indicates that they originate in the middle part of the volcanic system, far from the surface.
In terms of energy released, the largest event reached a magnitude of 1,4 mbLg, within the range of very low magnitudeThese types of earthquakes, under normal conditions, usually go unnoticed by the population and are only detected thanks to the instrumental monitoring network.
The IGN technicians emphasize that This increase in seismicity comes after several consecutive swarms The high activity at Mount Teide during February has meant that any changes in the activity pattern are being closely monitored. Even so, the observed parameters point to an evolution consistent with processes already known to have occurred on the island for years.
In this context, experts remind us that Tenerife is part of a volcanically active archipelago and that the appearance of groups of earthquakes or isolated episodes does not in itself mean that an eruption is imminent, but rather responds to the internal dynamics of the system.
Seismic swarm or isolated earthquakes?
One of the key takeaways from these last few hours is that, despite the eye-catching headline of a dozen earthquakes on Mount TeideScientists clarify that this is not a new swarm. The director of the IGN in the Canary Islands, Itahiza DomínguezHe explained that the localized events They do not show the typical seismic swarm pattern, but they are isolated earthquakes with a higher content of high frequencies.
Seismic swarms are generally characterized by very dense clusters of earthquakes in a limited time and area, with similar magnitudes and without a major main event. What has been observed now, however, fits better with a series of isolated earthquakes which appear sporadically under Las Cañadas, something that seismologists have been recording for years.
Domínguez has insisted that, «A month and a half ago this activity would probably have gone unnoticedHowever, the context created by the February swarms necessitates constant monitoring. For now, what does seem clear is that The swarming activity ceased as of a recent Thursday, without any episodes of the same intensity being repeated in the following days.
Experts emphasize that, with barely a week of reduced activity, It is too early to consider any process closed.Experience from other volcanic episodes shows that these phenomena can have phases of increase and decrease before stabilizing or evolving into another type of behavior.
That's why scientists are cautious in assessing the situation: right now, everything indicates that The seismicity fits with the known dynamics of the systemBut no one can rule out the possibility of swarms or other types of signals occurring again in the near future, as part of the same medium- or long-term process.
What can we expect from now on
In response to the question many are asking, and now that?Itahiza Domínguez himself has pointed out that The fluid pressure that fed the swarms could have been reducedat least temporarily. Even so, he warns that "a week is not enough time" to resolve the episode and consider it over.
The behavior of a volcanic system, specialists explain, is usually more like a long-duration film than a static photographThere may be periods of greater agitation followed by calmer ones, without necessarily implying that the process has ended. In this case, they could reappear tomorrow. new swarms or simply continue with isolated earthquakes of low magnitude.
Scientists emphasize that It is not possible to anticipate, from one day to the next, whether the activity will increase or decrease.To assess a completed eruption, for example, a prolonged period of stability is required, as seen in La Palma (2021 eruption)whose process was officially completed only after meeting several technical criteria for weeks.
Something similar happened in El Hierro, where the underwater eruption that began in 2011 was considered to have ended years laterOnce the absence of clear signs of reactivation has been confirmed. These previous experiences serve as a reference: A few days of less activity are not enough. to consider a volcanic episode closed.
For now, the agencies in charge of surveillance maintain that the best tool is the continuous monitoring of the geophysical and geochemical parametersAny relevant changes in the depth of earthquakes, their magnitude, ground deformation, or gas emissions would be analyzed immediately to adjust alert levels if necessary.
Recent seismic swarms and possible origin of the activity
The recorded swarms between February 7 and 10 They marked a turning point in risk perception in Tenerife. During those days, surveillance networks detected low-frequency seismic activity continuously, something that until now had not been observed with such duration or regularity under the Teide environment.
According to the IGN analysis, this behavior is related to an accumulation of fluids in the subsoil and an internal overpressure which would have acted as a trigger for the subsequent swarms. The idea is that, as pressure increases in certain areas of the system, ruptures and adjustments occur, resulting in small seismic tremors.
Dominguez points out that That specific low-frequency signal has not been recorded again. with the same intensity, suggesting that the most pronounced pressurization episode may have subsided. However, he adds that this does not mean a similar situation cannot occur again later, since the system It remains active and evolving.
Meanwhile, the scientific coordinator of INVOLCANNemesio Pérez explained that the general view held by experts is that both seismic swarms and other hybrid events detected in the western area of Las Cañadas del Teide are strongly linked to processes of internal pressurizationThis fits with the movement of fluids at depth, with no clear indications of a direct magmatic intrusion towards the surface.
Pérez himself has insisted that, to date, It has not been officially stated that Tenerife is involved in a magmatic intrusion process As such, this would be a much more significant scenario from the perspective of volcanic risk management. What is observed is interpreted as part of a anomalous volcanic activity that has been active since 2016 and that has been gradually increasing.
What do INVOLCAN and Pevolca say about volcanic risk?
El Pevolca scientific committee The Canary Islands Volcanic Emergency Plan recently met to share data recorded by the various monitoring networks. In one of the most recent counts, experts tallied at least 3.300 very low intensity earthquakes associated with the Teide environment over a period of several days, most of them not felt by the population.
These earthquakes, taken together, form part of a pattern of anomalous volcanic activity which has been building up in the past, but does not in itself imply an immediate eruption. The committee has been clear in stating that, with the available data, There is no apparent increase in the probability of eruption in the short or medium term in Tenerife.
At the same time, scientists warn that The general trend since 2016 has been an increase in domestic activityThis is why the island is being kept under particularly close surveillance. The aim is not to cause alarm, but to have all the necessary information to react quickly should the system change its behavior.
Some of the most striking events have been concentrated in the western area of Las Cañadas del Teide, where low-frequency signals have been observed at depths located approximately between 7 and 9 kilometersThis type of signal is associated with the movement of fluids—such as hot water, gases, or magma at deep levels—a phenomenon expected in active volcanoes.
Despite the increase in seismicity, the official position of organizations such as IGN, INVOLCAN, and Pevolca itself is that There is no reason to raise volcanic alert levelsHowever, they recommend that citizens stay informed through official channels and avoid alarmist interpretations that are not based on verified data.
Seismicity in the Canary Islands: Enmedio Volcano and other earthquakes
While the swarms were being closely monitored under Mount Teide and the dozen recent earthquakes in Las CañadasThe networks also detected other movements in the regional area. Among them, one stands out. magnitude 4,1 earthquake located between Tenerife and Gran Canaria, near the well known Volcán de Enmedio, at a depth of about 15 kilometers.
This earthquake was felt by the population in a dozen municipalitiesSome residents noticed objects swaying, although no material damage was reported. Experts have explained that it is a seismically active area, where tectonic tensions are periodically released through these types of events.
The scientific committee has pointed out that There is no proven direct relationship between this earthquake and the current activity under TeideIn other words, the temporal coincidence does not necessarily imply that they are part of the same process, but rather that they respond to different dynamics within the archipelago as a whole.
Outside of the Canary Islands, the Volcán de Enmedio It remains largely unknown, but specialists consider it a common site for energy release in the region. Its behavior is continuously monitored, as are the other volcanic structures and submarine islets that dot the Atlantic around the islands.
In addition to these incidents, the following have also been recorded on those same days other earthquakes scattered throughout the archipelagoThese earthquakes, generally of low magnitude, are often located in areas such as El Hierro, Agaete, or the surrounding Atlantic Ocean. All of this data is integrated into monitoring systems to provide a comprehensive regional view of tectonic and volcanic activity.
Surveillance, public communication and a special program on Canary Islands Television
To explain in more detail what is happening beneath Tenerife, Radio Televisión Canaria has prepared a special program from its News Services focusing on the situation of Mount Teide and its surroundings. Under the title “What is happening on Mount Teide?”The program is broadcast live at 22 pm, simultaneously on Televisión Canaria and on the regional radio station.
The program's objective is to offer rigorous and verified information on the increase in seismicity and recent swarms. For this, specialists are participating and providing details. What is happening beneath the island? What scenarios are being considered? and how the institutional response is organized in case the activity changes significantly.
This type of initiative also seeks reduce uncertainty among the populationThis creates a space where technical concepts—pressurization, hybrid events, seismic swarms—can be explained in accessible language. The idea is that anyone interested can understand where we stand without resorting to rumors or misinterpretations.
At the same time, the institutions remind us that the Key information about volcanic activity in the Canary Islands is published on official channels from IGN, INVOLCAN, Pevolca and the civil protection services. These platforms are frequently updated to collect the latest available data and associated scientific assessments.
Coordination between scientific bodies and public administrations is essential so that, should the situation evolve, Decisions should be made in a timely manner and based on evidence.For now, the messages agree on two ideas: the system is active and is being closely monitored, but current indicators do not point to an eruption in the coming weeks or months.
With all of that on the table, the recent a dozen earthquakes beneath Mount TeideThe February swarms and other regional earthquakes are interpreted as part of the internal life of a volcanically active archipelagoRather than an immediate warning of an eruption, the key, for both the scientific community and the public, is to remain attentive to official data, avoid unnecessary drama, and accept that, in a territory like the Canary Islands, some seismic activity is part of the landscape, even if it occasionally reminds us with a scare that the volcano is still there.
