Over 750 minor earthquakes were recorded beneath Tenerife in a single night. IGN confirms no immediate eruption risk, but the seismic swarm is the tenth since February. Most tremors went unnoticed by residents.
More than 750 small earthquakes were detected beneath Tenerife overnight, according to the Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN). The seismic swarm, which unfolded from Wednesday evening into Thursday morning, marks the tenth such episode on the island since February. Despite the scale of activity, IGN director Itahiza Domínguez has stated there is no evidence pointing to an increased risk of volcanic eruption in the short or medium term.
The majority of these tremors were too weak to be felt by the population. Manual analysis identified around 100 earthquakes between July 22 and 23, while automated systems logged over 500 additional events. All were concentrated in a specific area west of Las Cañadas del Teide, mainly beneath the municipalities of Guía de Isora, Vilaflor de Chasna, and Santiago del Teide, at depths ranging from 10 to 15 kilometers.
According to IGN, the seismic signals are predominantly hybrid events—combining rock fracturing with vibrations from fluids such as gas, water, or magma. While hybrid earthquakes are common in many volcanic regions worldwide, their frequency in Tenerife is unusual. The current swarm began with weak tremors on Wednesday afternoon and intensified overnight, with events occurring every 30 to 60 seconds. The IGN notes that similar swarms were observed in February, March, and June, and that the current activity remains within the range of recent patterns.
Domínguez emphasized that a shift toward a volcanic eruption would require stronger earthquakes and clear signs of magma moving toward the surface—neither of which have been detected. The presence of volcano-tectonic, hybrid, and low-frequency events, the latter linked to deep fluid movement, does not by itself indicate an acceleration of volcanic processes. The IGN maintains that the situation is stable and comparable to previous episodes this year.
The last eruption on Tenerife occurred in 1909 at the Chinyero volcano, lasting just ten days. Earlier eruptions, such as those at Siete Fuentes, Fasnia, Arafo (1704–1705), Garachico (1706), and the Narices del Teide or Chahorra (1798), have shaped the island’s volcanic landscape. Although Tenerife is currently classified as dormant, occasional seismic swarms—like the notable episode in 2004—have previously sparked speculation about renewed volcanic activity, which ultimately proved unfounded.
Spain’s volcanic monitoring has drawn increased attention in recent years, especially after the 2021 La Palma eruption, which lasted 85 days and caused significant disruption. The current situation in Tenerife, however, is being closely tracked by authorities, with no changes to risk levels or public safety measures at this time. For context on how extreme weather and natural events are monitored across Spain, see this report on recent severe storms and hail alerts in the southeast.
Tenerife’s geological complexity, with hundreds of volcanic vents, means that periodic seismic activity is not unexpected. The IGN continues to monitor the situation, reiterating that further swarms may occur or subside without warning. For now, the agency’s assessment remains unchanged: there is no indication of an imminent eruption, and the island’s status as a dormant volcano persists.
