An earthquake measuring 2.3 on the Richter scale near Tenerife shook the earth on Thursday at 11.15 pm. The epicentre was 16 kilometres below the surface. The Spanish National Geographic Institute (IGN) recorded the tremor.
In addition, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) analyses the data recorded by the IGN. At 2.3, the earthquake was slightly above the average for the past 30 days. During this period, the tremors in the Canary Islands averaged a magnitude of 2.
Over the past 30 days, the IGN has recorded 49 earthquakes in the Canary Islands region, an average of 1.6 per day. In the last seven days, the institute has recorded 16 tremors. This is slightly more than the monthly average would suggest.
Canary Islands: Minor earthquakes are monitored around the clock
The Canary Islands are of volcanic origin, and minor tremors occur regularly across the archipelago. The IGN and the Canary Islands Volcanological Institute (INVOLCAN) monitor seismic activity round the clock.
According to seismologists and geologists, a cluster of earthquakes does not automatically mean an increased risk. However, the experts are monitoring such sequences closely. The island carried out an emergency drill in October: at that time, Tenerife practised its response to a volcanic eruption in the south, evacuating residents and tourists in the process.
Earlier, on Thursday at 6.01 am, the IGN had recorded a 2.5-magnitude earthquake 50 kilometres off Gran Canaria, with the epicentre at a depth of 17 kilometres. On Wednesday at 11.12 am, the earth shook 80 kilometres off Lanzarote with a magnitude of 2.4 at a depth of 17 kilometres. On 25 October 2026 at 6.08 pm, the stations recorded a 3.1-magnitude earthquake 90 kilometres off the coast of Fuerteventura, with its epicentre at a depth of 50 kilometres.
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