A Tenerife travel warning has been issued as a volcano on the Canary Islands sparks fears of potential eruption. Tenerife, a popular destination for UK tourists, is currently experiencing a “seismic swarm” according to the Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands (Involcan).
The institute has detected dozens of small earthquakes, with 26 occurring in the southwest sector of the Las Cañadas del Teide crater, the island’s largest volcano. Scientists believe this increase in seismic activity is due to a pressurization process within the volcanic-hydrothermal system, likely linked to the injection of magmatic gases.
Despite the alarming seismic activity, Involcan has reassured the public that there is no immediate danger to the population and the probability of a volcanic eruption in the short to medium term remains unchanged.
The last major eruption in Tenerife occurred in 1909 during the Chinyero eruption, which lasted for ten days. Mount Teide, the island’s main volcano, is a unique stratovolcano located on top of a shield volcano. It boasts one of the tallest peaks on Earth, second only to Hawaii’s Mauna Kea.
With Tenerife being a popular holiday destination, the news of potential volcanic activity has raised concerns among tourists and locals alike. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and providing updates as the seismic swarm continues.