The Canary Islands experienced seismic activity in the early hours, spread across three key points of the archipelago, as reported by the National Geographic Institute (IGN). Although minor in magnitude, these tremors have captured public interest, once again highlighting the importance of geological monitoring in the region.
During the early hours of Friday, 6 June, three earthquakes were recorded in different parts of the archipelago, all with magnitudes below 2 on the mbLg scale, classifying them as minor seismic movements without destructive capacity or effects perceived by most inhabitants.
The first of these tremors was detected at 03:55 local time in the Mazo municipality on La Palma island, at a depth of 14 kilometres. The IGN estimated its magnitude at 1.8 mbLg. Such activity is relatively common in the area, where the southern volcanic systems of the island have maintained constant geological activity for years. It is worth remembering that La Palma was the site of the 2021 volcanic eruption in Cumbre Vieja, prompting heightened seismic vigilance on this island since then.
At 04:15, just 20 minutes later, another seismic movement was recorded near the Teide National Park, in Vilaflor, Tenerife. This second tremor also reached a magnitude of 1.8 mbLg but was located at a mere 2 kilometres depth, making it more superficial than the previous one.
The Teide region, Spain’s highest point and a dormant yet active volcano, is under constant observation by geological monitoring agencies. The IGN’s Canary Islands Seismic Network precisely records movements in this area, a crucial site for monitoring volcanic risk in the islands.
The last recorded tremor occurred at 05:43, this time in the oceanic channel between Gran Canaria and Tenerife. The IGN pinpointed it at 25 kilometres depth, with a magnitude of 1.6 mbLg. This part of the Atlantic is known for moderate tectonic activity, with frequent microsisms typically having no impact and going unnoticed on land. Nonetheless, monitoring helps refine models of regional tectonic behaviour and predict potential stress accumulations underground.
