More earthquakes recorded near Mount Teide after a week of calm
A series of small earthquakes has been recorded beneath Las Cañadas del Teide in Tenerife after nearly a week of relative calm, according to the National Geographic Institute (IGN).
In total, twelve tremors were detected between 9:45pm on Tuesday and 6:00am on Wednesday, occurring at depths between 8 and 14 kilometres. The strongest registered a magnitude of 1.4 mbLg, and none were felt by the population.
Despite the renewed activity, experts stress that the situation around Mount Teide remains stable.
Not a seismic swarm
According to Itahiza Domínguez, director of the IGN in the Canary Islands, the events are not part of a seismic swarm like those recorded during February.
Instead, the tremors are isolated earthquakes with higher frequency signals, similar to those that have occasionally been recorded in the same area for several years.
“A month and a half ago this activity would not have attracted much attention,” Domínguez explained. “However, given the current context we will continue to monitor the situation closely in case anything changes.”
The IGN also confirmed that the swarm-type seismic activity observed in recent weeks has stopped since last Thursday.
Too early to draw conclusions
Scientists say it is still too soon to determine whether the recent episode of seismic swarms has fully ended.
Domínguez explained that the pressure from underground fluids — believed to have triggered the swarms — may have subsided, but warned that one week is not long enough to draw firm conclusions.
“I wouldn’t say the process has finished or that we won’t see this type of activity again for a long time,” he said. “Another swarm could occur tomorrow, or the activity could change into something different.”
He compared the uncertainty to volcanic eruptions, which can only be declared over after a significant period of inactivity. For example, the 2021 eruption on La Palma is still considered part of an ongoing geological process, while the volcanic episode in El Hierro in 2011 was only later determined to have ended in 2014.
Possible cause of February swarms
The IGN believes the low-frequency seismic activity recorded between 7th and 10th February, unusual for its duration and continuity, was likely caused by a build-up of underground fluids and pressure, which then triggered the subsequent earthquake swarms.
Although the recent tremors show that the area remains active, authorities insist there is no indication of an imminent eruption.
“There is unusual activity, but the scenario at Teide is one of calm,” the IGN reiterated, stressing that neither the recent swarms nor the latest earthquakes suggest a volcanic eruption in the short or medium term.
Share:
