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Current Reports of volcanic unrest in the Canary Islands

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.

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  • 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:

    • The Platform of Those Affected by the Volcano in Cumbre Vieja 2021,

    • The Cumbre Vieja Volcano Social Association,

    • The La Laguna Neighbourhood Association,

    • The Citizen Initiative of Those Affected by the Volcano,

    • The Water for La Palma Association,

    • The Tierra Bonita Association,

    • The Benawara Animal and Plant Protection Association

    • 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:

    • La Plataforma de Afectados por el Volcán de Cumbre Vieja 2021,

    • La Asociación Social Volcán Cumbre Vieja,

    • La Asociación de Vecinos de La Laguna,

    • La Iniciativa Ciudadana de Afectados por el Volcán,

    • La Asociación Agua para La Palma,

    • La Asociación Tierra Bonita,

    • La Asociación Benawara de Protección de Animales y Plantas

    • La Asociación Unidad Protectora de Animales (UPA-La Palma).

    (Planeta Canario, 2026)

    This interview with Maria José Blanco (Head of IGN Spain in the Canary Islands) towards the end of November was fascinating. The interview took place in IGN’s commandeered headquarters in the basement of a church in El Paso with a good view towards the volcano. The place was awash with screens, field equipment, wires and boxes. Behind Maria José was live feeds from the cameras set up around the volcanic cone and the seismometers close to the volcano. The day of the interview was one of a few days during the eruption with a very high number of earthquakes, and during the interview you could feel an earthquake through your feet and then see the signal simultaneously come through on the seismograph on the screen.

    GeoTenerife interview with Maria José Blanco (Head of IGN Spain in the Canary Islands) during the La Palma eruption

Timeline of volcanic unrest

Drag the timeline along to see previous updates

July 24 2023 3:00 PM

Small seismic series 23-24th July in West Tenerife

The small seismic series below the west coast of Tenerife that occurred on 23-24 July 2023. Sourced from IGN (2023). The bottom panel shows the locations with depth (Z) in kilometres, and the right panel shows the locations with depth and latitude. The colour of the symbols indicates the time, defined in the area to the lower right.
The small seismic series below the west coast of Tenerife that occurred on 23-24 July 2023. Sourced from IGN (2023). The bottom panel shows the locations with depth (Z) in kilometres, and the right panel shows the locations with depth and latitude. The colour of the symbols indicates the time, defined in the area to the lower right.

🇬🇧 🇺🇸

On 23-24 July 2023, a small seismic series of about 20 earthquakes occurred below the west coast of Tenerife. Most were 30 to 46 km deep, with magnitudes between 1.3 and 1.8 (mbLg), none of which were felt.

🇪🇸 🇮🇨

Los días 23 y 24 de julio de 2023, se produjo una pequeña serie sísmica de unos 20 terremotos bajo la costa occidental de Tenerife. La mayoría tuvieron una profundidad de entre 30 y 46 km, con magnitudes de entre 1,3 y 1,8 (mbLg), y ninguno de ellos se sintió.

July 23 2023 1:15 PM

New deep seismic series from Tenerife

Earthquakes recorded around Tenerife. Shape portrays magnitude and colour relflects time recorded. iGN (2023)
Earthquakes recorded around Tenerife. Shape portrays magnitude and colour relflects time recorded. iGN (2023)

🇬🇧 🇺🇸From 13:15 UTC 23 July until 5:49 UTC 24 July, a small seismic series occurred below the west coast of Tenerife. 20 earthquakes were located, most of them at a depth of between 30 and 46 km and with low magnitudes between 1.3 and 1.8. Due to their small magnitude and great depth, no earthquake has been felt by the population and it does not indicate a change in the state of volcanic activity (IGN, 2023).

🇪🇸 🇮🇨 Desde las 13:15 UTC del 23 de julio hasta las 5:49 UTC del 24 de julio, se produjo una pequeña serie sísmica bajo la costa oeste de Tenerife. Se localizaron 20 terremotos, la mayoría de ellos a una profundidad de entre 30 y 46 km y con magnitudes bajas entre 1,3 y 1,8. Debido a su pequeña magnitud y gran profundidad, la población no ha percibido ningún terremoto y no indica un cambio en el estado de la actividad volcánica (IGN, 2023).

July 6 2023 11:00 PM

GeoTenerife July 2023 thread

June 12 2023 8:45 PM

Small earthquakes on the 11-12th June

A seismogram showing a small, deep seismic series below Tenerife on 11 June 2023. Sourced from IGN (2023)
A seismogram showing a small, deep seismic series below Tenerife on 11 June 2023. Sourced from IGN (2023)

🇬🇧 🇺🇸

On 11-12 June 2023, a small seismic series occurred 40-50 km below the west coast of Tenerife with at least 40 earthquakes detected (15 located), with a maximum magnitude of 1.6 (mbLg). None were felt.

🇪🇸 🇮🇨

El 11 y 12 de junio de 2023 se produjo una pequeña serie sísmica a 40-50 km por debajo de la costa oeste de Tenerife, con al menos 40 terremotos detectados (15 localizados), con una magnitud máxima de 1,6 (mbLg). Ninguno se sintió.

January 16 2023 9:30 PM

Quakes below Arico

A map of Tenerife showing the locations of small earthquakes located around 3-6 km below the Arico area. Sourced from IGN (2023).
A map of Tenerife showing the locations of small earthquakes located around 3-6 km below the Arico area. Sourced from IGN (2023).

🇬🇧 🇺🇸

On 16 January 2023, a series of 11 small (magnitude 0.0 to 1.0 mbLg) earthquakes were detected below the Arico area, around 3-6 km deep. None were felt.

🇪🇸 🇮🇨

El 16 de enero de 2023 se detectó una serie de 11 pequeños terremotos (de magnitud de 0,0 a 1,0 mbLg) bajo la zona de Arico, a unos 3-6 km de profundidad. Ninguno se sintió.