An earthquake was detected near Agaete in the north-west of Gran Canaria this morning (Wednesday), according to seismic monitoring information from Spain's Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN).

The tremor, measuring approximately 2.8 in magnitude, occurred shortly after 8:00am, with its epicentre located to the south-east of Agaete, and the earthquake occurred at an estimated depth of around seven kilometres.

Although relatively small in magnitude, the movement was sufficiently noticeable to be felt by people in the surrounding area.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage associated with the earthquake.

Earthquakes in the Canary Islands

Small seismic events are not unusual in the Canary Islands because of the volcanic origin and geological characteristics of the archipelago.

Many of the earthquakes detected by the IGN are extremely weak and occur either at considerable depth or offshore, meaning residents never notice them.

Others, however, can be felt despite having relatively low magnitudes, particularly when their epicentres are comparatively shallow or close to populated areas.

The IGN continuously monitors seismic activity throughout Spain, including the Canary Islands, through its network of monitoring stations.

Scientists use the information collected by these stations to determine the location, depth and magnitude of earthquakes and to identify patterns in seismic activity.

An isolated earthquake of this size does not, by itself, indicate that a volcanic eruption is imminent.

Canary Islands residents are particularly conscious of seismic activity following the 2021 volcanic eruption on La Palma, which was preceded by an intense and sustained swarm of thousands of earthquakes.

However, that type of prolonged seismic sequence is very different from an isolated low-magnitude tremor.

At present, there has been no indication from the relevant scientific authorities that this morning's earthquake represents an unusual volcanic situation in Gran Canaria.

People who believe they felt an earthquake can report their experience through the IGN's macroseismic questionnaire. These reports help scientists determine how strongly an earthquake was felt across different locations.

Monitoring will continue to determine whether any further seismic activity occurs in the area.