A 2.7 magnitude earthquake has been recorded yesterday in the Atlantic close to Lanzarote, although there have been no reports of it being felt by residents or visitors.

The seismic movement was detected Thursday, 17th September, in waters to the west of Lanzarote and was recorded by the National Geographic Institute (IGN), which monitors earthquake activity across the Canary Islands.

The IGN's latest reviewed information lists the earthquake at magnitude 2.7 on the Richter scale, with its hypocentre at a depth of approximately 14 kilometres.

It occurred at 11:20am and its epicentre was located at approximately 29.15 degrees north and 14.34 degrees west, off the coast of Lanzarote.

There have been no reports in the IGN data of a maximum felt intensity associated with the earthquake, and no damage has been reported.

Earthquakes regularly detected around the Canary Islands

Although reports of earthquakes can attract attention because of the volcanic origin of the Canary Islands, small seismic events are routinely detected in and around the archipelago by the IGN's monitoring network.

The detection of an individual small earthquake does not in itself indicate that a volcanic eruption is imminent.

Sensitive monitoring equipment is capable of detecting movements that are too small or too distant to be noticed by the population, meaning many earthquakes appear in official seismic records without residents being aware that they have occurred.

Several other much smaller earthquakes were also registered around Tenerife during the same period, demonstrating the level of background seismic activity routinely picked up by the monitoring network.

The IGN continually analyses earthquake data and warns that information in its recent-earthquake catalogue can be modified as seismic analysis is reviewed.