The Spanish island of Tenerife has been shaken by a series of four earthquakes, including a peak magnitude 3.6 tremor, following warnings of increased volcanic activity around Mount Teide.
Tourists on the island reported feeling tremors and watching furniture move inside buildings during the seismic events, which occurred off the coast and across northern towns.
Data from Spain's National Geographic Institute (IGN) shows the strongest magnitude 3.6 earthquake struck at 18:37 local time in the sea near the island at a depth of 34 kilometres.
The main tremor was felt in the settlements of Bajamar, La Caridad, Tagoro in Tacoronte, and Valle de Guerra, as well as in the historic town of La Laguna. La Laguna, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in northern Tenerife, is not an area that typically registers frequent seismic events.
Three other earthquakes were recorded in the same sequence. A magnitude 3.0 tremor occurred at 17:57 at a depth of 35 kilometres, while a magnitude 2.3 shock was recorded at a depth of 36 kilometres. A fourth earthquake measured magnitude 2.8 at a shallower depth of 16 kilometres.
The IGN assessed the intensity of the 17:57 magnitude 3.0 shock at level II. This rating indicates the earthquake was primarily felt by people inside buildings who were sitting or lying still, especially on upper floors. Experts from the institute suggested the earthquakes may have a tectonic origin, given their focal depth and distance from the coast.
Emergency evacuation drills planned near Mount Teide
The seismic sequence has drawn heightened scrutiny following a decision by the Tenerife Island Council to conduct two emergency response drills. Mount Teide, which rises 3,715 metres above sea level as the highest point in Spain, is an active stratovolcano positioned at the centre of the island.
A recent surge in tremors around the peak prompted experts to warn local residents and holidaymakers that additional earthquakes are entirely possible. The island council organized the safety exercises to test emergency procedures should volcanic or seismic activity increase further.
One of the scheduled drills, set for October 22, will involve a mass population evacuation in Guía de Isora. Located on the south-western coast of Tenerife, Guía de Isora is a prominent tourist destination featuring luxury resort communities and high-end hotels.
Heightened vigilance across the Canary Islands
As reported by The Mirror, the tremors arrived after official monitoring confirmed that seismic activity around Teide had recently exceeded normal baseline levels.
While the earthquakes recorded during this series were not exceptionally strong, their occurrence alongside elevated volcanic activity has highlighted the seismic monitoring efforts on the island. Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, welcoming millions of visitors each year who travel to its beach resorts and volcanic landscapes.
