The earthquake was widely felt across both Canary Islands on Thursday, with residents reporting rooms vibrating and furniture shaking, though no damage was reported
Residents and tourists across Tenerife and Gran Canaria have been urged to remain calm after thousands of people on both islands experienced a 4.1 magnitude earthquake.
Scientists have confirmed it is not linked to the seismic activity recorded over the past two weeks beneath Mount Teide on Tenerife, and have stressed that a volcanic eruption is not imminent.
Authorities acknowledge that many people were alarmed by the earthquake and questioned whether it was connected to the unusual seismic activity beneath Teide, but experts have moved to reassure the public that there is no such connection.
“In 1989, in this same area, an earthquake of 5.3 was recorded that was felt throughout the island of Tenerife,” said IGN volcanologist Rubén López, who dissociated this earthquake from the recent rebound in seismicity in the Cañadas del Teide area.
Witnesses reported rooms shaking and furniture rattling following the earthquake, which struck at 12.26pm today at a depth of ten kilometres.
The quake was not centred beneath Mount Teide, but rather beneath the Enmedio volcano, situated between Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
The National Geographic Institute confirmed the earthquake measured 4.1 in the vicinity of the Enmedio Volcano, located in the channel separating the two islands.
The tremor was widely felt by residents and visitors across various parts of both Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
Given its magnitude and the depth of its hypocentre, the quake prompted a significant number of reports from members of the public who distinctly felt the movement.
In municipalities such as Arico in Tenerife, witnesses Residents reported vibrations lasting around five seconds, with some describing how “the whole room was shaking” throughout the incident.
One Agaete resident in Gran Canaria explained: “It lasted about ten seconds and was more noticeable than ever, moving the whole house,” adding: “It went from less to more. At first it seemed like the closing of a door, but then the whole house moved.”
The National Geographic Institute (IGN) has documented the towns where the earthquake was detected at different intensity levels. The tremor didn’t just affect Tenerife but also impacted multiple locations across Gran Canaria, being registered in over 100 populated areas spanning the two principal islands.
Among these locations are several popular tourist destinations including Los Cristianos in Tenerife and Las Palmas on Gran Canaria. Within these zones, the earthquake was felt distinctly inside buildings, causing alarm among some residents and holidaymakers. Authorities have confirmed no significant material damage or injuries have been recorded.
The Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands (INVOLCAN) has emphasised that “this earthquake has no relation whatsoever” to the volcanic seismicity recorded in Tenerife in recent weeks.
The area of Enmedio Volcan The region ranks among the Canary Islands’ most seismically active zones, situated on a submerged fault line between the two capital islands.
Whilst seismic activity is routine in this location, earthquakes surpassing magnitude 4 typically cause heightened alarm amongst residents as they’re distinctly felt within properties.
Experts are reconvening tomorrow to further analyse the thousands of tremors detected beneath Mount Teide on Tenerife.
They emphasise an eruption is not expected in the near or medium-term future, as the warning signs would be markedly different. Nevertheless, they’re urging all Tenerife municipalities to refresh their emergency protocols, pointing out that residents in countries such as Iceland are fully prepared with clear procedures should an eruption occur.
Tenerife’s government maintains the island possesses the most advanced and comprehensive monitoring infrastructure available and stresses there’s no reason for public concern.