The Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN) reported a new earthquake yesterday, Monday, October 21st, with a magnitude of 3.1 on the Richter scale in Tenerife. The tremor occurred at 3:45pm, with its epicentre located in the northern part of the island.
According to IGN's data, the earthquake struck at a depth of 52 kilometres at coordinates 28.9141° north latitude. While the magnitude is not considered high, the earthquake was felt by the public in several areas near the epicentre according to preliminary reports.
This event adds to the recent series of earthquakes recorded in the Canary Islands, which are under continuous seismic monitoring to better understand the geological dynamics of the archipelago.
Seismic activity in the Canary Islands
Seismic activity has increased in the Canary Islands recently, particularly in Tenerife. Over the last few years, there has been a notable rise in both the frequency and intensity of earthquakes in the region. For instance, in early 2023, over 100 earthquakes were detected in just two months between Tenerife and Gran Canaria. More recently, clusters of quakes, including a significant one earlier this month (October) with a magnitude of 3.3, have been recorded, contributing to heightened concerns about potential volcanic activity.
This rise in seismic events is closely monitored by the IGN, which continuously tracks the volcanic and tectonic movements in the archipelago. The increased activity, especially near Tenerife and the underwater Enmedio Volcano between Tenerife and Gran Canaria, has led to speculation about possible future volcanic eruptions, though experts maintain that these events are still within normal volcanic behaviour for the region
