In recent weeks, Tenerife has experienced increased seismic activity beneath the iconic volcano El Teide, one of the island’s most important natural landmarks and a symbol of the Canary Islands. According to the Instituto Volcanológico de Canarias (INVOLCAN), a new series of hybrid seismic events began on Monday, February 16, at around 20:00 local time. Since then, more than 300 small earthquakes have been recorded by the Canary Seismic Network.
These events involve very low magnitudes, microseismic tremors that are almost imperceptible to humans but significant enough to keep scientists and safety authorities alert. This sequence has been described as the eighth episode of this type observed beneath El Teide since 2016.
What does this activity mean?
Experts from INVOLCAN are analysing the data and relate the increased activity to a possible injection of magmatic fluids into the hydrothermal system beneath the volcano. This phenomenon occurs regularly in volcanic areas and does not usually indicate an imminent eruption. According to the current interpretation, the probability of a direct eruption remains unchanged, meaning there are currently no warning signs pointing to an immediate volcanic event.
It is not the first time Tenerife has experienced similar seismic episodes. Historical records show that comparable clusters of small earthquakes occurred in June 2019, July 2022 and November 2024. The recent wave of activity follows this established pattern.
Response from safety authorities
Although the tremors are rarely felt by residents or tourists, PEVOLCA, the civil protection plan for volcanic risk in the Canary Islands, has announced that the situation is being closely monitored. PEVOLCA regularly organises coordination meetings between scientists, local authorities and emergency services in order to strengthen monitoring and prepare for possible developments if necessary.
Local authorities stress that there is currently no reason for alarm, but they encourage vigilance and preparedness.
Incidents such as these are also often used to test the readiness of emergency services. In other parts of Tenerife, national safety drills and simulations have already been carried out to ensure that emergency responders can react quickly and efficiently if required.
What does this mean for residents and visitors?
For the local population, this new seismic activity serves as a reminder of the volcanic nature of the island. Experts emphasise that Tenerife has been an active volcanic region for centuries and that El Teide, although calm in recent decades, remains part of a dynamic geological system.
Tourists and visitors do not need to be seriously concerned at this moment. The current seismic tremors are too weak to cause damage or to be felt in most parts of the island. For travel within Teide National Park and the surrounding areas, visitors are advised to follow the instructions of local authorities and park managers, especially if they plan to visit the higher areas of the volcano.
Conclusion
The recent wave of more than 300 microseismic events beneath El Teide highlights the ongoing activity of Tenerife’s volcanic system. Scientists continue to monitor the phenomenon closely in order to detect any changes in the volcano’s behaviour at an early stage. So far, however, there are no indications of an imminent volcanic eruption.
For Tenerife, it remains important that both residents and visitors stay well informed about seismic and volcanic monitoring, an issue that will always remain relevant on this volcanic island.
Photo: Freepik
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