An earthquake measuring 2.7 magnitude on the Richter scalevwas recorded in the early hours of this morning (Thursday), in the waters between Tenerife and Gran Canaria, according to reports from the National Geographic Institute (IGN).

The tremor struck at 4:50am beneath the Enmedio submarine volcano, an underwater volcanic structure located in the Anaga-Agaete channel between the two islands, and is reported as tremorsover a magnitude of 2.4 can be felt by the public.

The area is well known for its regular seismic activity and is one of the Canary Islands' most closely monitored geological zones due to the frequency of small earthquakes recorded there.

Later, at 6:53am, the IGN detected a second, much smaller tremor beneath Tenerife itself. The 1.0 magnitude tremor was centred in Vilaflor, at a depth of approximately 15 kilometres.

An Underwater Volcano Few People Know About

Although little known outside the Canary Islands, and even unfamiliar to many residents, the Enmedio volcano is an active underwater volcanic structure first identified and mapped in 1994.

Its name simply reflects its location, sitting almost exactly between Tenerife and Gran Canaria, although it lies slightly closer to the Tenerife coastline.

The volcano is one of the reasons why the stretch of seabed separating the two islands experiences frequent seismic activity. However, the vast majority of these earthquakes are low in magnitude and pass unnoticed by the public.

Routine Seismic Activity

The latest tremor once again highlights the ongoing geological activity beneath the Canary Islands.

In addition to the regular earthquakes around Enmedio, Tenerife also experiences recurring seismic activity beneath various parts of the island, particularly around Las Cañadas del Teide and municipalities in the south and south-west, including Vilaflor.

The IGN continues to monitor seismic activity across the archipelago, but there is no indication that either of Thursday's earthquakes caused any damage or posed a risk to the public.