Teide: Seismic Swarm
Beneath Las Cañadas

Teide volcano remains under continuous scientific surveillance following a sustained earthquake swarm beneath the Las Cañadas caldera. Official monitoring from IGN and INVOLCAN confirms elevated subsurface activity — but no indicators of imminent eruption.

According to official monitoring data from the Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN) and the Instituto Volcanológico de Canarias (INVOLCAN), a cluster of low-magnitude earthquakes has been recorded beneath the Teide–Pico Viejo volcanic complex in recent days.

Las Cañadas Caldera, Tenerife — home to the Teide–Pico Viejo volcanic complex

Current Seismic Activity

Recent seismic data is available directly via the official IGN portal, which provides national earthquake catalogues and real-time volcanic monitoring updates.

This pattern is consistent with deep magmatic or hydrothermal system adjustments rather than shallow magma intrusion — a distinction that is critical in assessing eruption potential.

Figure 1. Recent earthquake epicentres beneath the Teide–Pico Viejo complex. Source: Instituto Geográfico Nacional (Red Sísmica Canaria)

Ground Deformation Monitoring

Geodetic monitoring stations across Tenerife continue to track crustal movement via IGN's volcanic surveillance network. As of 17 February 2026, all deformation indicators remain within long-term baseline ranges:

• ✓ No rapid uplift detected
• ✓ No radial deformation pattern
• ✓ No shallow pressurisation signature

Minor background deformation variability remains within long-term baselines established by the network.

Gas & Geochemical Surveillance — INVOLCAN

INVOLCAN continues its multi-parameter monitoring programme, which includes some of the most comprehensive geochemical surveillance of any European volcanic system. Current values remain within expected variability for an active volcanic system.

Monitoring updates are published via the INVOLCAN surveillance portal.

Figure 2. INVOLCAN field monitoring operations at Teide, including gas and geochemical surveillance

Technical Interpretation

Taken together, the current dataset points to activity occurring within the deep hydrothermal and magmatic system rather than a shallow, potentially eruptive intrusion.

The seismic swarm most likely reflects one or more of the following mechanisms:

• → Mid-crustal stress redistribution
• → Volatile movement within the hydrothermal system
• → Background magmatic adjustment at depth

Official Alert Level

As of 17 February 2026, IGN and INVOLCAN have confirmed the following:

Readers should rely exclusively on official updates issued by IGN and INVOLCAN for the latest status.

Volcoholics Monitoring Commitment

Teide remains under constant scientific surveillance. The present seismic swarm represents measurable subsurface activity within an active volcanic system — and that is exactly the kind of signal our community watches closely.

There is no evidence of imminent eruption at this time.

Volcoholics will continue monitoring seismic migration patterns, GNSS deformation signals, gas emission trends and official IGN and INVOLCAN alert updates. We will publish further reports if the situation changes.