News from Tenerife #14 is published weekly as a brief overview of the past week’s most significant events on your favorite website. This series highlights notable occurrences and news from the past week. Each article in News from Tenerife offers a synthesis of events and updates that, due to their brevity, do not warrant a standalone article.
Navy Ship Conducts Comprehensive Sweep in Canary WatersNews from Tenerife #14/1
Since the morning of Tuesday, January 7, 2025, the U.S. auxiliary ship Cape Texas (T-AKR-112) has been conducting maneuvers in the waters around the Canary Islands, performing a thorough sweep at a speed of 10 knots. The ship has been continuously navigating between the east of La Palma and the north of Tenerife, as seen on maritime tracking platforms like MarineTraffic and VesselFinder.
The ship’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) is activated, as it belongs to a NATO ally and is fully identified. So far, no request to dock has been made, according to maritime media sources.
The Cape Texas is part of the U.S. Navy’s auxiliary transport fleet, and its presence in Canary waters is known to both military and civilian authorities. This ship belongs to the Ready Reserve Force (RRF), an operational reserve of the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD). When activated, it operates under the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) with ROS-5 status, meaning it can be mobilized within five days.
Designed as a roll-on/roll-off (RO-RO) vessel, the ship specializes in transporting vehicles and heavy equipment. Its primary mission is to provide logistical support in strategic situations.
Earthquakes on the Canary Islands in 2024
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Of all the recorded earthquakes, 18 were felt by the population. The strongest one occurred on September 10, 2024, at 7:20 PM, a few kilometers north of Gran Canaria, with a magnitude of 3.8. Another earthquake of similar strength was recorded on September 19 at 9:34 PM, at a depth of 21 kilometers near El Hierro.
Seismic activity on the Canary Islands slightly decreased in 2024 compared to 2023. The largest reductions were observed on La Palma, where the number of earthquakes dropped from 397 to 159, and on Tenerife, which saw a decline from 621 to 517. The IGN noted that these figures refer to earthquakes that could be individually located. For instance, Tenerife experienced a seismic swarm of 500 small tremors that could not be individually located and were therefore not included in the statistics.
Protests Against American Warship
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More than forty organizations have expressed their opposition to the presence of the American military ship Cape Texasin Canary waters and the use of the archipelago as a platform for military support and exercises. In a joint statement, these organizations demanded that the Canary Islands remain a place of peace and neutrality, emphasizing solidarity, nonviolence, and resistance to military activities.
The organizations warned that the Cape Texas is a vessel designed to support warfare and described it as an “instrument of crimes against humanity.” The ship transports combat cargo globally, supplies military forces, moves equipment, and provides logistical support. According to the statement, the ship undertakes so-called “special missions,” which the organizations claim equate to spreading destruction and serving the interests of the world’s wealthiest at the expense of human lives, communities, and everything in its path.The involved groups call for increased awareness and action to protect the Canary Islands from involvement in military activities and violence.
Increase in Fatal Road Accidents
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n 2024, the Canary Islands registered 39 fatal road accidents, five more than in 2023, representing a 15% increase. Nationally, a total of 1,154 road fatalities were recorded on Spanish roads, an increase of 14 deaths (+1%) compared to the previous year.
The highest increases in fatal road accidents were observed in the regions of Navarra (+46%), the Valencia Community (+25%), and Murcia (+23%). Meanwhile, significant decreases were recorded in eight autonomous regions, with the largest reductions in Extremadura (-39%), La Rioja (-36%), and Asturias (-29%).
In absolute terms, Andalusia reported the largest increase, with 35 more fatalities than in 2023, followed by the Valencia Community, which recorded 22 additional deaths.
With 39 fatal accidents, the Canary Islands experienced a significant rise, placing the region among those with the most notable increases. Despite the relatively low number of fatalities compared to other regions, the 15% increase is cause for concern. These figures highlight the ongoing need for efforts to improve road safety and reduce the number of accidents. The traffic safety report underlines regional differences but also points to a slight national rise in road fatalities. This calls for further policies and preventive measures to address road safety across Spain.
Canarias Ends 2024 with a Population of 2,228,862
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By the end of 2024, the population of the Canary Islands totaled 2,228,862 people, marking a growth of 1.22%. Over the past year, 26,814 new residents settled on the islands. According to data from the Instituto Canario de Estadística (Istac), this represents the third consecutive year of population growth following the decline in 2021, when the population decreased by 0.14% (3,008 fewer residents).
The Canary Islands recorded the sixth-highest growth rate among Spain’s autonomous regions in 2024. Madrid led with a 2.07% increase, followed by the Valencia Community (2.03%), the Balearic Islands (2.02%), Catalonia (1.59%), and Murcia (1.25%). The national average stood at 1.18%.
Compared to ten years ago, the Canary Islands’ population has grown by 124,047 people (from 2,104,815 in 2014). Since the start of the century in 2000, the population has increased by 512,586, as the archipelago then had 1,716,276 residents.
The most significant growth in 2024 was recorded on Lanzarote, which added 4,446 residents (+2.80%), bringing its total population to 163,467. Fuerteventura followed with a 2.40% increase (2,977 additional residents), resulting in a total population of 127,043.
Tenerife: +1.16% (+10,956 residents), total 955,063.
Gran Canaria: +0.79% (+6,772 residents), total 863,943.
La Palma: +1.47% (+1,229 residents), total 85,104.
La Gomera: +1.24% (+274 residents), total 22,436.
El Hierro: +1.37% (+160 residents), total 11,806.
Women continue to outnumber men, with 1,129,169 women compared to 1,099,693 men. Since 2009, women have been the majority on the Canary Islands, reversing the trend seen in 2001 when men briefly outnumbered women.
These events and developments have a significant impact on life in Tenerife, showcasing the diversity of challenges, progress, and opportunities the island faces.
Unknown © Photography
News from Tenerife #14 ©
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