Spain’s Canary Islands have been hit by a series of earthquakes this week, including at least ten in a tight 24-hour period.
Since Monday, Sept. 4, three earthquakes with magnitudes of three or more have rocked the area, prompting experts to dive deeper into trends and evaluate the risks to locals.
On Monday at 4:01 am, an earthquake measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale struck due west of the archipelago.
Twenty minutes later, another magnitude 1.6 earthquake struck in the Atlantic Ocean between Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Four more were recorded in the area that day before a magnitude 3.2 quake hit the populated area of El Pinar.
Low-level earthquakes continue to batter the region, with a magnitude 3.0 event occurring in the surrounding ocean.
The Canary Islands lie between the African, Eurasian and American tectonic plates, which exposes them to regular seismic activity.
File image of a coastal town in Tenerife, Las Canarias. The region has been rocked by tremors
Smoke rises from La Caldera de Taburiente National Park as a forest fire that started on July 15 has destroyed 4,000 hectares of land, on the Canary Island of La Palma, July 18, 2023
Areas close to populated regions have reportedly been affected by the tremors facts from the Spanish Institute of National Geography.
Southeast of the city of Mogán, on Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, an earthquake with a magnitude of 1.9 was recorded at a depth of 31 kilometers.
Canary magazine noted that the recurrence of these events in the same area could indicate a more continuous trend of activity.
Local experts continue to explore trends to help inform risk assessments for planning and infrastructure.
A magnitude of 2.5 or less is usually not felt, but can be picked up by a seismograph.
A magnitude of 2.5 to 5.4 is often felt, but only causes minor damage.
Every year, approximately 500,000 earthquakes occur worldwide with a magnitude of between 2.5 and 5.4.
Underground tectonic plates also shaped the archipelago’s volcanic landscape, further endangering its inhabitants.
In 2021, an eruption in the south of La Palma caused damage of up to 843 million euros, with the lava flow prompting the evacuation of 7,000 people.
During the volcanic eruption of the Tajoga, more than 3,000 buildings were destroyed, including the entire city of Todoque.
Local residents try to reach their homes in the village of Benijos as the fire spreads in La Orotava in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain on Saturday, August 19, 2023
Firefighters fight flames burning vegetation during a wildfire near Prodromos, 100 km northeast of Athens, on August 21, 2023
Last month, Tenerife was devastated by the worst forest fires in 40 years, while temperatures soared.
More than 15,000 hectares of forest were destroyed in the national park around the Teide volcano.
La Palma was also damaged in July by a forest fire that spread and destroyed some 4,000 hectares of land.
About 400 firefighters, supported by nine water-dropping planes, were called in to fight the blaze.