Introduction
The Canary Islands have had a lot of volcanic activity over millions of years, and some of the islands are still active today; therefore, there will likely be another eruption at some point, but it is near-impossible to predict exactly when, where, or how big it will be. Scientists closely watch the volcanoes to understand their normal “background” activity so that they can identify when unusual volcanic behaviour might indicate that an eruption could be on the way. On this page we describe who monitors volcanic activity and participates in emergency response with a timeline of the main episode of unrest in the last 20 years.
It is important to refer to official sites for information in an emergency. The main sites to find information around volcanic unrest are:
Twitter accounts of the Islands’ Cabildos:
Cabildo de Lanzarote
Cabildo de El Hierro
Cabildo de La Palma
Cabildo de Tenerife
Other groups also cover volcanic unrest:
Current status of each island
VTL - Current volcanic traffic level by Ajay Geotenerife
For an explanation of Traffic Light System, click here
The colours in this interactive map do NOT correspond to the Volcanic traffic level above. The most recent earthquake is within the flashing red circle. Yellow circles are earthquakes with a magnitude less than 2, orange between 2-3, red between 3-4, and dark red is a magnitude of more than 4. IGN Spain uses the mbLg, which measures the body wave magnitude, uses a logarithmic scale, and this scale is suited for measuring earthquakes close to their epicentre.
Most recent report
A summarised version of the most recent report available through the IGN seismic catalogue, relevant social media, and news articles. You can find a comprehensive timeline at the bottom of this page.
Timeline of volcanic unrest
Drag the timeline along to see previous updates
La Palma’s recommendations to prepare Tenerife
🇬🇧 🇺🇸 Resident advocacy groups representing people affected by the 2021 eruption in La Palma have released a statement which provides recommendations for measures to be implemented in Tenerife to prepare society for a potential eruption. The 8 groups point to the legal precedent of the newly enacted Volcano Law, which obliges the Canary Islands Government to implement an awareness plan on volcanic risk and measures to reduce material and personal damage. The recommendations are available to read here.
The statement was endorsed by:
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The Platform of Those Affected by the Volcano in Cumbre Vieja 2021,
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The Cumbre Vieja Volcano Social Association,
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The La Laguna Neighbourhood Association,
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The Citizen Initiative of Those Affected by the Volcano,
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The Water for La Palma Association,
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The Tierra Bonita Association,
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The Benawara Animal and Plant Protection Association
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The Animal Protection Unit Association (UPA-La Palma).
(Planeta Canario, 2026)
🇪🇸 🇮🇨 Los grupos de defensa de los residentes que representan a las personas afectadas por la erupción de 2021 en La Palma han publicado una declaración en la que se recomiendan medidas que deben aplicarse en Tenerife para preparar a la sociedad ante una posible erupción. Los ocho grupos señalan el precedente legal de la recién promulgada Ley de Volcanes, que obliga al Gobierno de Canarias a poner en marcha un plan de sensibilización sobre el riesgo volcánico y medidas para reducir los daños materiales y personales. Las recomendaciones pueden consultarse aquí.
La declaración ha sido respaldada por:
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La Plataforma de Afectados por el Volcán de Cumbre Vieja 2021,
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La Asociación Social Volcán Cumbre Vieja,
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La Asociación de Vecinos de La Laguna,
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La Iniciativa Ciudadana de Afectados por el Volcán,
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La Asociación Agua para La Palma,
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La Asociación Tierra Bonita,
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La Asociación Benawara de Protección de Animales y Plantas
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La Asociación Unidad Protectora de Animales (UPA-La Palma).
(Planeta Canario, 2026)
GeoTenerife interview with Maria José Blanco (Head of IGN Spain in the Canary Islands) during the La Palma eruption
New research about Volcan Enmedio
🇬🇧 🇺🇸 The Enmedio submarine volcano, located between the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria and more than 1,600 meters deep, exhibits active hydrothermal fluid circulation. A scientific team from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), and in collaboration with Geosciences Barcelona (GEO3BCN-CSIC), the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), the University of Salamanca (USAL), and the University of La Laguna (ULL), has published a paper in the Bulletin of Volcanology, available here, expanding upon geological, geophysical, geochemical and oceanographic data collected over almost a decade. Whilst this analysis provides key information for understanding submarine volcanism in the Canary Islands and its interaction with the ocean, it is not related to the seismic swarms recorded last week in Las Cañadas del Teide.
🇪🇸 🇮🇨El volcán submarino Enmedio, situado entre las islas de Tenerife y Gran Canaria y a más de 1600 metros de profundidad, presenta una circulación activa de fluidos hidrotermales. Un equipo científico del Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), en colaboración con Geociencias Barcelona (GEO3BCN-CSIC), el Instituto de Ciencias del Mar (ICM-CSIC), la Universidad de Salamanca (USAL) y la Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), ha publicado un artículo en el Boletín de Vulcanología, disponible aquí, en el que se amplían los datos geológicos, geofísicos, geoquímicos y oceanográficos recopilados durante casi una década. Si bien este análisis proporciona información clave para comprender el vulcanismo submarino en las Islas Canarias y su interacción con el océano, no está relacionado con los enjambres sísmicos registrados la semana pasada en Las Cañadas del Teide.
Las Cańadas activity calms for now, March 1st 2026
🇬🇧 🇺🇸 Seismic activity has eased in the Las Cańadas caldera, with only low-energy, low-frequency tremors recorded since February 28th. Furthermore, the last swarm that occurred on Thursday, 26th, was the ‘weakest’ swarm since the swarms were detected last month. (Canarian Weekly, 2026)
🇪🇸 🇮🇨La actividad sísmica ha disminuido en la caldera de Las Cañadas, y desde el 28 de febrero solo se han registrado temblores de baja energía y baja frecuencia. Además, el último enjambre que se produjo el jueves 26 fue el más «débil» desde que se detectaron los enjambres el mes pasado. (Canarian Weekly, 2026)
10 days of seismic activity around Tenerife ( 22nd February-4th March); yellow circles are earthquakes with a magnitude less than 2, orange between 2-3. Sourced from the IGN Seismic Visualiser (2026)