Tenerife volcano eruption fears are false, experts say

A number of mini earthquakes were recorded at Mount Teide
Efraimstochter/Pixabay
Sophie Williams11 May 2018

The Canary Islands' Volcanological Institute has hit back at claims a volcano could erupt saying "Tenerife is safe."

It comes after 270 mini-earthquakes were recorded across the Canary Islands since April 29.

A number of the mini-earthquakes were recorded at Tenerife's Mount Teide, which last erupted in 1909.

Several reports claimed that the volcano could be close to erupting.

However experts from the Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands refuted the claims, reminding people that the current volcano alert is green.

A green level alert means that "people can be confident to carry out their activities 'normally'".

According to Spain's National Geographic Institute, the largest of the recent quakes was a magnitude of 3.2 on the Richter scale.

The area of the reported quakes is focused on underwater fault lines between Tenerife and Gran Canaria, both popular holiday destinations.

Mount Teide itself is visited by three million tourists a year.

The institute reminded tourists: "The Canary Islands are considered an active volcanic region, and also an attractive tourist destination, partly because of the volcanism which has built them.

"There is no increase in the level of volcanic alert level at Tenerife due to the recent seismic swarm between Tenerife and Gran Canaria. New reports that suggest otherwise have no basis in fact and are to be dismissed."

In February, La Palma, another Canary Island, was hit by small earthquakes sparking fears that the Cumbre Veija volcano could erupt. However Spain's National Geographic Institute downplayed any concerns adding that it's common to experience anything between 100 and 600 earthquakes in the area.

This month, Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupted with people forced to leave their homes as the lava continues to flow into residential areas. It's thought that 26 homes have been damaged in one area of the Big Island.