Involcan: Recent Tenerife Seismic Activity Consistent With Normal Geological Patterns
The Canary Islands Volcanological Institute has confirmed that recent seismic activity in Tenerife is part of a normal, recurring geological pattern and does not indicate an imminent volcanic eruption.
Recent seismic activity detected in Tenerife is part of a recurring geological pattern, according to the Canary Islands Volcanological Institute (Involcan). Far from requiring changes to safety protocols, these events reinforce the need for the island’s ongoing volcanic monitoring. The activity, which occurred last Friday afternoon and evening, is one of fourteen similar episodes recorded since late 2016. Experts describe this as normal internal activity for the island’s volcanic system and emphasize that it does not suggest an imminent eruption.
Researchers attribute these "hybrid" earthquakes to the movement of magmatic and volatile fluids within the island’s hydrothermal network. This conclusion is backed by geophysical and geochemical data, including a rise in carbon dioxide emissions at the summit of Mount Teide and minor ground movement in the northeast. While these indicators show that the system is dynamic, scientists view them as a form of persistent "volcanic noise" that has been consistent for years.
From a risk management perspective, it is important to distinguish between Tenerife’s naturally active state and the actual likelihood of an eruption. The recent seismic swarm, which lasted about four and a half hours, does not change the current risk level. Involcan continues to analyze these signals collectively to avoid unnecessary public alarm. Ultimately, the island remains in a state of latent activity that, while requiring constant observation, remains well within the geological norms observed over the last decade.