earthquake swarm canary islands june 2026

Twelve tremors shake Canary Islands in single weekend

Earthquake swarm detected across the Canary Islands

The National Geographic Institute (IGN) has detected a dozen earthquakes of magnitude 1.5 or higher, or which were felt by the population, since last Saturday, 13 June, according to data published on its website. Of these, the most striking figure is that five were above magnitude 2. Most were concentrated in the Atlantic, more specifically in the channel between the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, with only three located on an island itself, in this case, El Hierro.

Five strongest tremors on El Hierro and in the ocean

All five of the strongest earthquakes were recorded on El Hierro and in the ocean. In chronological order, the first occurred on Saturday at 01:27 hours in the Atlantic, with a magnitude of 2.1; the second, of 2.4, northwest of Frontera (El Hierro) at 08:19 hours; the third, of 2.2, also in the ocean at 13:55 hours; and the fourth of the day, in El Pinar at 21:08 hours, with a magnitude of 2.5, the largest recorded. On Sunday, the fifth tremor above magnitude 2 was located in the Atlantic. Specifically, it was of magnitude 2.1 and occurred in the Atlantic, also between Tenerife and Gran Canaria, though further north.

Low-magnitude seismicity continues

Regarding last week’s seismic activity, the Canary Islands Volcanological Institute (Involcan) has published on its social media channels that the Canary Islands Seismic Network recorded 313 low-magnitude earthquakes, of which the highest value of 2.5 is linked to a tremor that occurred last Tuesday, 9 June, located between the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria. The total seismic energy released in the archipelago last week was 0.06 gigajoules, the institute explains. Specifically, the earthquakes were located mainly on the islands of Tenerife, Gran Canaria and La Palma.

Tectonic activity and advice for the public

Furthermore, Involcan reminds us that the Canary Islands are also characterised by moderate tectonic activity; therefore, some earthquakes have also been recorded along active seismic faults, such as the one between Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Although the earthquakes that occur in the islands are not usually especially strong, it is always wise to be prepared and know how to act in such an event.

To this end, the IGN offers a series of tips on what to do during an earthquake: drop, cover and hold on by getting under a table; stay calm and keep your balance as much as possible; if indoors, move away from furniture, windows and light fittings; if outside, move away from buildings, walls and electricity poles; if driving, stop in a safe place, switch on hazard lights and remain inside the vehicle; if using a wheelchair, lock the brakes in a safe place and protect your head with your arms; if in a crowded place, protect your head with your arms and take shelter under seats and tables.

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