tenerife 200 micro earthquakes volcanic activity

Tenerife earthquake swarm: Over 200 micro-quakes detected in 48 hours

Seismic activity surprises again in Tenerife

The National Geographic Institute (IGN) reported this Friday that it had detected several pulses of low-frequency seismic activity between Thursday and Friday, registering some 79 earthquakes. However, the data from the Canary Islands Volcanological Institute (Involcan) is even more striking.

Over 200 micro-quakes in 48 hours

Since Thursday, Involcan’s Canary Seismic Network has recorded an increase in activity on the island. Specifically, during the last 48 hours, more than 200 very low-magnitude volcano-tectonic (VT) micro-earthquakes have been located in the southwestern sector of the Las Cañadas del Teide caldera, at a depth of approximately 10 kilometres, according to the organisation’s social media channels. These low-intensity tremors have reached a maximum magnitude of Ml 1.1 on the Richter scale.

Part of a recurring pattern since 2017

Involcan reminds the public that this episode is part of the recurring seismic activity that Tenerife has been experiencing since June 2017. In fact, as on previous occasions, its origin is linked to a process of pressurisation in the island’s volcanic-hydrothermal system, triggered by the injection of fluids of magmatic origin. “This process has been repeatedly observed since 2016 and is supported by various independent geochemical and geophysical indicators,” Involcan stated.

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