Tenerife to carry out largest-ever volcanic eruption drill
Tenerife will hold its biggest volcanic emergency simulation to date later this month, as the island strengthens its strategy for dealing with volcanic risk. The large-scale exercise will take place in Garachico from 22nd to 26th September, involving more than 1,000 participants from different emergency, scientific, and civil protection bodies.
The initiative was presented yesterday, Monday, by Cabildo president Rosa Dávila, alongside senior officials and experts, including vulcanologist Luca D’Auria of the Canary Islands Volcanology Institute (Involcan).
Why Garachico?
The choice of Garachico is deliberate: the northwest of Tenerife, covering Garachico, El Tanque, Santiago del Teide, and Guía de Isora, is considered the area of highest volcanic risk, according to Involcan’s scientific assessments.
Dávila emphasised that there is no imminent threat of eruption, but highlighted the importance of being ready for any future scenario. “This is not about creating alarm,” she said, “but about having a common strategy to protect lives and keep people informed.”
What will happen during the drill?
The simulation forms part of the EU-Modex Civil Protection Mechanism and will begin on Monday 22nd September at 9:00am, when residents across Tenerife will receive a test alert message via the ES-Alert system, simulating a “red alert” volcanic eruption scenario.
Following this, evacuation exercises will be carried out in Garachico, beginning with the old harbour area. The operation will involve coordinated action between scientists, the military, emergency services, local authorities, and the Red Cross, supported by universities and national meteorological and geophysical agencies.
Preparing for the future
Officials emphasised that Tenerife has invested heavily in prevention and preparedness, including:
- Creating logistical support hubs with the Red Cross and the College of Pharmacists.
- Training programmes with Involcan, the Spanish Geological Survey (IGN), and the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet).
- Emergency command posts where scientists and the military can work side by side.
- Municipal emergency plans to be coordinated with the Cabildo, with a key meeting scheduled for 15th September.
“This is a pedagogical exercise, not improvisation,” explained Néstor Padrón, head of Civil Protection in Tenerife. “We need a global strategy that involves identifying vulnerable people, caring for animals, planning for tourist evacuation, and ensuring resilience across society.”
Volcanic risk in Tenerife
Involcan continues to register seismic activity on the island, including more than 90 small earthquakes recently at Teide, though experts stress these are not linked to imminent magma movement.
According to D’Auria, Tenerife remains in a “period of calm”, but the island is geologically active, and another eruption will happen at some point, whether in a year or in a century.
Involcan’s statistical projections suggest there is a 40% probability of an eruption in Tenerife within the next 50 years, rising to 63% over the next 100 years.
“The risk is increasing, not because the volcano is more active, but because of more infrastructure and a larger population exposed to potential hazards,” said D’Auria. He also noted that public awareness remains low, citing poor attendance at prevention workshops in La Palma just months before its eruption in 2021.
Staying safe
Authorities encourage residents and tourists not to be alarmed but to see the exercise as an opportunity to understand how emergency communication and evacuation would work in practice. The key message is clear: Tenerife is prepared, and preparation is the best defence against natural risks.
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