Why La Palma’s Volcanic Traffic Light Remains Yellow

Involcan Reports 32 Low-Magnitude Earthquakes in the Canary Islands This Week

Diego R. Moreno

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria JAN 19, 2025 7:48

The weekly report GUAYOTA released this Friday outlines the earthquake-volcanic activity recorded in the archipelago from January 10 to 17, 2025. According to the findings from the Canary Islands Volcanological Institute (INVOLCAN), the volcanic traffic lights in Tenerife, El Hierro, Lanzarote, and Gran Canaria are set to green, indicating that daily life is unrestricted.

Conversely, in La Palma, over two years since the 2021 eruption, the geophysical and geochemical parameters remain unnormalised, thus the island continues to be under a yellow alert.

32 Earthquakes in One Week

The Canarian Seismic Network has documented 32 earthquakes of low intensity within the last week. The most significant quake occurred on Monday, January 13, to the north of Gran Canaria with a magnitude of 2.8. Seismic activity has primarily affected Tenerife, Gran Canaria, El Hierro, and La Palma, albeit at levels considerably lower than those recorded during the Palma eruption.

Tectonic activity remains moderate along active faults, particularly in the region between Tenerife and Gran Canaria, with no notable changes in ground deformation.

Volcanic Gas Emissions

With respect to carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, abnormal levels persist outside the areas of Puerto Naos and The Light Bulb in La Palma, while Tenerife has recorded the highest rates of diffuse volcanic gas emissions. Since 2016, the island has been experiencing a process of pressurisation of the volcanic-hydrothermal system, a phenomenon regarded as normal in the short to medium term for active volcanic regions.

The state of affairs in the Canary Islands, though generally stable, remains under constant observation by INVOLCAN and the Canarian Seismic Network. Monitoring the volcanic traffic lights along with the developments in seismic and geochemical activities is crucial to ensuring the safety of those living in the archipelago.