4.1 magnitude earthquake felt by the public shakes Tenerife and Gran Canaria
A 4.1-magnitude earthquake was widely felt across Tenerife and parts of Gran Canaria at 12:26pm today (Thursday 26th February), according to reports from the IGN. The quake was located at a depth of 10 kilometres in the Volcán de Enmedio, the underwater volcano that sits in a fault zone between both islands.
Residents reported clear and sometimes startling vibrations, particularly in areas such as Arico, where locals described shaking that lasted around five seconds with some saying that “their whole room was vibrating”.
Widely felt across two islands
The tremor was detected in more than a hundred neighbourhoods across Tenerife and Gran Canaria, with reports ranging from light swaying to moderate shaking inside buildings, especially on higher floors. Municipalities with clearer perception included La Orotava, Los Realejos, Santa Cruz, Güímar, Arafo, Arico, Santa Úrsula, and parts of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gáldar, Agaete, Valsequillo, and San Mateo.
Dozens more locations reported mild shaking, including Arona (Buzanada, Palm-Mar, Cho, Guaza and Los Cristianos), Granadilla (Cruz de Tea, San Isidro), San Miguel (Guargacho),), Granadilla (El Médano, Chimiche, El Salto), Guía de Isora (Chío), and Santiago del Teide (Puerto de Santiago), all in the south of Tenerife.
Not linked to recent Teide seismic swarms
INVOLCAN have stressed that this event is not connected to the recent seismic swarms recorded underneath Teide. The Enmedio Volcano is known as one of the most seismically active zones in the archipelago, and although earthquakes are common there, those exceeding magnitude 4 tend to alarm the population due to their strong perceptibility.
No damage reported
Despite the intensity with which the quake was felt, no material damage or injuries have been reported.
Authorities are encouraging anyone who noticed the tremor to complete the IGN’s online questionnaire, which helps refine data on where the quake was perceived and at what intensity.
Local emergency services continue to monitor the situation, but no further alerts have been issued.
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