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The Volcanic Readiness Project

GeoTenerife aim to increase tourist and Canarian resident preparedness around volcanic emergencies; understanding emergency plan, risk and hazards, and how to prepare for the next volcanic eruption in the Canary Islands. We gather information on previous eruptions, resources for both residents and tourists to feel better prepared, and updates across the archipelago.

A future eruption will occur in the Canary Islands and residents, visitors and Canarian authorities must be ready.

Do you want to ask us a question about volcanic readiness? Visit our forum.

It is necessary to ensure that residents and tourists in the Canary Islands:

  • Are aware of the potential volcanic risks and hazards in the places where they live, work or visit.
  • Have taken steps to prepare for an emergency.
  • Know where to receive volcanic emergency alerts and are familiar with emergency plans.
  • Know what to do and where to go during an emergency.

Encourage the Canary Islands authorities to:

  • Improve policies that protect residents’ land, businesses and property in the event of destruction by eruptions.
  • Diversify the island’s economy to reduce its dependence on tourism, which is vulnerable following a volcanic eruption.
  • Invest in social programmes during periods of volcanic inactivity to improve resilience and response capacity for the next eruption.

Eruptions in the Canary Islands

The Canarian archipelago was built up by volcanic activity around 60 million years ago. All of the Canarian islands except La Gomera have experienced volcanic eruptions in the last 11,700 years (which is when the current geological epoch – the Holocene – began). 

However, only Tenerife, La Palma, El Hierro, and Lanzarote have had volcanic activity in the last 500 years (known as historical eruptions):

How you can prepare for an eruption

According to FEMA (2023) and USGS (2025) the following recommendations should help you prepare before an eruption or earthquake sometimes associated with an eruption.

Supplies:

  • N-95 disposable respirator (mask), long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, and supplies to seal ash out of the home/building.

  • Supplies of water and food to last for at least 72 hours

  • Flashlight, portable radio, and fire extinguisher

  • Assemble an emergency kit ahead of time, we recommend this list by ready.gov

Recognise Volcanic Precursors:

Alerts and Warnings:

Anyone with a mobile phone, including tourists, should receive an emergency alert message in the event of an emergency but as a contingency, we recommend the following actions:

  • Follow the volcano observatory’s social media for updates- IGN and Involcan

  • Watch for earthquakes using IGN’S interactive map

  • Know where to find the nationwide alert/notification system during volcanic unrest – Pevolca

  • Understand the levels of alert and what actions you will take at each level – Pevolca

  • Monitor official alerts 1-1-2 Canarias for information on evacuation and shelters

Documents

  • Take time now to safeguard critical documents by keeping them in a fireproof and waterproof box

  • Take pictures or videos of your home and belongings for insurance purposes

  • Keep a backup of important documents and photos on a secure cloud-based service

  • Update your insurance coverage to cover the event of an eruption or earthquake

Learning the following skills

  1. Make a plan.

  2. Build an emergency kit.

  3. Stay informed.

  • Have an evacuation plan for your pet. Many public shelters and hotels do not allow pets inside. Research safe places to take your pets before disasters and emergencies happen.
  • Talk to your neighbours Have a plan with your neighbours so that if either of you is not able to evacuate your pets the other person knows to help
  • Have your pet microchipped. Keep your address and phone number up-to-date and include contact information for an emergency contact outside of your immediate area.
  • Contact your local emergency management office, animal shelter or animal control office for any additional advice and information.

(Based on Ready.gov)

Pet emergency checklist

  • Put your pets’ ID on their collars with your name, address, and phone number.
  • Get your pets microchipped and vaccinated to protect them in case you are separated during the crisis.
  • Have copies of your pets’ microchip information, vaccine records, and contact information for the microchip company.
  • Have current photos of your pets in case they get separated from you.
  • Buy carriers appropriate for your pets’ sizes.
  • 2 weeks’ worth of medication, water, and pet food.
  • Put everything mentioned above alongside your family emergency kit.

 (Based on Best Friends Animal Society.org)

According to FEMA (2023), the following recommendations should help you to be prepared during an eruption.

  • Monitor official communications from Pevolca, reported in the Canarian press and television, and follow official sources such as 1-1-2 Canarias and the Civil Guard.  If official sources call for an evacuation, follow the evacuation order immediately to your closest available shelter
  • Wear an N-95 respiratory mask and long-sleeve clothing, to protect your lungs and skin from ash which can shred the soft tissues in your respiratory system or cause skin irritation.
  • If official sources call for confinement: 1. Seal doors and windows, close doors and windows place damp towels at door thresholds, and turn off air conditioning. These actions will prevent ash from entering the building 2.   Bring animals and livestock into closed shelters. 3. Put all machinery inside a garage/barn to protect it from long-term damage caused by ash-blocking vents, drives, and fans.
  • Avoid areas downwind and down-slope of the volcano, particularly valleys, as lava flows or pyroclastic flows will flow downhill. However, be aware that these flows might change direction rapidly.

The USGS recommends the following actions during an earthquake:

  • Drop, Cover, and Hold On: Drop to the ground to prevent being knocked over. Cover your head and neck, and take shelter under furniture if possible. Hold On to your shelter, maintaining the position until the shaking stops.

  • Stay Indoors: Move away from windows, glass, and heavy furniture. Stay inside; don’t run outside during shaking.

  • If Outside, Find Open Space: Stay away from buildings, trees, and power lines. Drop to the ground and cover your head and neck.

  • If in a Vehicle, Stop Safely: Pull over to the side of the road in an open area. Stay in the vehicle until the shaking stops, avoiding overpasses and bridges.

  • Do Not Use Elevators: Use stairs if you need to exit a building.

According to WHO (2022), almost all people affected by emergencies will experience psychological distress, learning how to manage your stress to prevent ’emergency threat stress’ from reducing your capability during a crisis will be a key for a prepared resident. The Queensland Government Health Department suggests:

  • Slow down: Take regular mental breaks from solving problems and recognise stress cycles early.

  • Address your physical needs: Get sufficient rest and food to fuel your body through this crisis.

  • Positivity: A hopeful person is less likely to burn out mid-crisis, practise being positive and optimistic, but remember you can talk about your fears. Focus on what you can control, not the full scope of the crisis.

  • Monitor official communications from Pevolca, reported in the Canarian press and television, and follow official sources such as 1-1-2 Canarias and the Civil Guard.  If official sources call for an evacuation, follow the evacuation order immediately to your closest available shelter
  • Wear an N-95 respiratory mask and long-sleeve clothing, to protect your lungs and skin from ash which can shred the soft tissues in your respiratory system or cause skin irritation.
  • If official sources call for confinement: 1. Seal doors and windows, close doors and windows place damp towels at door thresholds, and turn off air conditioning. These actions will prevent ash from entering the building 2.   Bring animals and livestock into closed shelters. 3. Put all machinery inside a garage/barn to protect it from long-term damage caused by ash-blocking vents, drives, and fans.
  • Avoid areas downwind and down-slope of the volcano, particularly valleys, as lava flows or pyroclastic flows will flow downhill. However, be aware that these flows might change direction rapidly.

The USGS recommends the following actions during an earthquake:

  • Drop, Cover, and Hold On: Drop to the ground to prevent being knocked over. Cover your head and neck, and take shelter under furniture if possible. Hold On to your shelter, maintaining the position until the shaking stops.

  • Stay Indoors: Move away from windows, glass, and heavy furniture. Stay inside; don’t run outside during shaking.

  • If Outside, Find Open Space: Stay away from buildings, trees, and power lines. Drop to the ground and cover your head and neck.

  • If in a Vehicle, Stop Safely: Pull over to the side of the road in an open area. Stay in the vehicle until the shaking stops, avoiding overpasses and bridges.

  • Do Not Use Elevators: Use stairs if you need to exit a building.

According to WHO (2022), almost all people affected by emergencies will experience psychological distress, learning how to manage your stress to prevent ’emergency threat stress’ from reducing your capability during a crisis will be a key for a prepared resident. The Queensland Government Health Department suggests:

  • Slow down: Take regular mental breaks from solving problems and recognise stress cycles early.

  • Address your physical needs: Get sufficient rest and food to fuel your body through this crisis.

  • Positivity: A hopeful person is less likely to burn out mid-crisis, practise being positive and optimistic, but remember you can talk about your fears. Focus on what you can control, not the full scope of the crisis.

Even after the volcano has stopped erupting lava and ash, volcanic hazards such as volcanic gases, high temperatures near lava, and degassing might continue, do not assume that life can return to normal immediately.  According to FEMA (2023) and The Queensland Government Health Department (2024) the following recommendations will help after an eruption. 

  • Be mindful of exclusion zones, which exist to protect you from ongoing hazards. Avoid the affected areas until they are deemed safe. Follow official instructions regarding returning to your home.

  • Wear an N95 mask and follow safety instructions when cleaning up ash. For instructions on wearing masks, visit this site.

  • Continuing to live near a volcano post-eruption has its risks. Volcanic rock can continue to be hot for months or years. Ash needs to be carefully removed because it may cause discomfort or adverse health impacts. Visit this site to learn more about the impact of ash on your health. Toxic gas emissions may make some areas uninhabitable.

  • Recognise any long-term distress caused by the crises so you can support yourself and your loved ones. Resources, community services, and support are available to help you and your family.

How might an eruption affect you?

Volcanic eruptions can be described as a multi-hazard complex event; multiple hazards can occur at the same time, hazards might change in intensity over time, the eruption and therefore the hazards may change rapidly, and the length of the eruption is difficult to predict. 

Primary effects of an eruption

The “primary effects” of volcanic eruptions are the hazardous events that occur as a direct and immediate result of the eruption. Whereas, the “secondary effects” of volcanic eruptions are the events that occur as a result of the primary effects. For example, if the primary effect is the ash plume the secondary effect is acidic rain and crop decline.

Volcanoes can impact the lives of local communities through gas emissions, even when the volcano is not erupting.The main three gases degassed from magma, in order of abundance, are water vapour (H2O), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2). If these gases are in sufficient quantity they may present some serious challenges to residents exposed.

This short film shows the lives of those living near the Masaya volcano, in Nicaragua; learning to manage fatigue, asthma, and adapting their farming practises and building construction. 

The film was produced by the UNRESP project, 

The depositing of volcanic ash as it falls from the sky, although does not appear to be of immediate high risk, the long-term damage of ashfall can be devastating; collapsing the roofs of homes, chemically destroying plants, and worsening breathing issues.

This short film shows the dramatic footage of the ‘Eclipse’ caused by ash plumes. The residents of two volcanic landscapes, Montserrat and Ecuador, describe the experience of ash everywhere – “between your teeth and on your bed”. 

The film was produced by the UNRESP project, 

The flow of lava can entirely change a landscape – slow-moving but incredibly strong flows can topple buildings and fast-flowing basaltic flows may flow faster than a person can run and set vegetation and other flammable materials on fire – creating a domino effect of hazards. 

This short film, narrated by Iain Stewart (University of Plymouth) describes the variety of impacts that a lava flow may have and how the eruption of Goma in 2022 was intensified by the contact of lava and petrol.

The film was produced by the UNRESP project, 

Those who have observed pyroclastic flows from a safe distance describe the deceptive beauty and majestic nature of the billowing ash spilling onto the landscape. They also describe that to waste time looking at the pyroclastic flow when it travels so quickly you can not outdrive it is a devious trap.

This film portrays the populations of Ecuador and Montserrat who live in the path of a potential pyroclastic flow. The film was produced by the UNRESP project, 

Secondary effects of an eruption

According to WHO (2022), almost all people affected by emergencies will experience psychological distress, the three main causes of this are:

Eruption Emergency Plans

During, normal volcanic activity levels (repose) the organisations IGN and Involcan monitor volcanic activity. During increasing volcanic activity, the PEVOLCA committee will meet to discuss the volcanic monitoring data, publish volcanic alerts/warnings, and serve as emergency decision-makers to activate emergency plans and evacuations.

The scientific committee debates the latest available data, collected by IGN and INVOLCAN, available to produce a report to inform emergency managers. Depending on the severity of the emergency overall management is the responsibility of the local president (level 3), the Canary Island president (level 2), or the Spanish President (Level 1). 

The volcano traffic light level ranges from green/yellow/orange/red, which represents Pre-alert, Alert, Maximum Alert, and Emergency alert. If the traffic light level is changed, by PEVOLCA, this triggers the corresponding emergency management plan.  The table below describes the traffic light system levels used by Pevolca, adapted from VolRiskMac (2023).

The traffic light below describes the volcanic alert levels used by Pevolca, adapted from VolRiskMac (2023).

Colour State Volcanological parameters Response
Green Pre-Alert Normal volcanological parameters Population maintain their normal lives
Yellow Alert Increased volcanological signals such as seismicity, gas measurements, and ground deformation Information to the population, surveillance measures and monitoring of volcanic and seismic activity are intensified
Orange Maximum Alert Volcanological parameters suggest an imminent eruption Preventative evacuations and residents should make themselves available to authorities
Red Emergency Volcanic eruption is occurring and may pose a significant risk to the population Total evacuation of the population in affected areas

The most important aspect to remember is that the traffic light colour represents the status of emergency plans being implemented and does not necessarily reflect the volcanic activity accurately, as seen during the beginning of the La Palma 2021 eruption. When the eruption began, at 14:10 hours (UTC) on September 19th 2021,  the traffic light was not changed to Red until 17:00 that day.

WHo’s WHo? by Isabel Geotenerife

Since 1996 there has been a state guideline for island Cabildo’s to produce an island action plan for a volcanic emergency. The Cabildo’s of Tenerife and La Palma have published the mandatory action plan, while El Hierro is still processing it. We will provide links to volcanic action plans when they are published.

However, PEVOLCA has produced a Special plan for civil protection and emergency response due to volcanic risk for all of the Canary Islands since 2010. It is currently being updated in the wake of the La Palma 2021 eruption.

Current Projects

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Reports of volcanic unrest

Check out our Volcanic Unrest page to Keep Up-To-Date with any recent volcanic activity

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GeoIntern reports on Volcanic Readiness

Presentations and conferences

Here you can find our glossary of Volcanic terms, complete with examples and explanations specific to the 2021 eruption on La Palma. You can download the glossary here in pdf or doc

ERRORS AND OMMISSIONS: VolcanoStories represents our best endeavour to reflect the eruption of Volcán de Tajogaite accurately, but we fully accept it may contain errors and omissions for which we apologise in advance and ask for your HELP. We encourage individuals or institutions who see an ERROR or who would like to CONTRIBUTE further material to help in this endeavour please contact us.

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