Tenerife experiences series of earthquakes of tectonic origin

A series of earthquakes occurred near Tenerife, Spain, involving one land-based tremor and several maritime events. The National Geographic Institute (IGN) recorded eight earthquakes in the Atlantic northeast of the island and one on land on Wednesday, August 26.

Two tremors were felt by the population: a magnitude 3.6 earthquake at a depth of 34 km and a magnitude 3.0 earthquake at a depth of 35 km. The 3.6 magnitude event was felt in municipalities including La Laguna, Tacoronte, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Subsequent seismic activity continued through the night, including several smaller tremors with magnitudes ranging from 1.5 to 2.4.

Scientists from the IGN and the Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands have ruled out a volcanic origin for the activity. Experts noted that the depth of the tremors, occurring in the Earth's mantle rather than the 10 km thick crust, suggests a tectonic origin. Officials stated that the lack of magmatic patterns and the progressive decrease in magnitude are consistent with aftershocks rather than volcanic swarms.