More than 20 tremors linked to Mount Teide rocked the island of Tenerife between Saturday October 28 and Monday October 30.
The Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands (INVOLCAN) reported that quakes, ranging between 0.8 and 2.0 in magnitude, hit the tourist town of Vilaflor.
A single powerful 1.4 magnitude quake also struck the island on Tuesday around 11.05am local time.
INVOLCAN said: “The characteristics of these seismic events reflect a relationship with the hydrothermal system, which has undergone a pressurisation process.
“This swarm is similar to the other seismic swarms recorded in Tenerife since last June of 2017 and as always it is important to emphasise, it does not represent any kind of concern for the population.
“These types of swarms are common in active volcanoes, and 90 per cent of times they disappear in the same way they occur.”
Where is the Mount Teide volcano?
The active volcano is located in the centre of Tenerife, the biggest of Spain‘s Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean.
The peak is sits only 44km (27 miles) from Tenerife’s main hub, Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Mount Teide has been ranked as the 40th tallest volcano in the world because it rises up 3,718-metre (12,198 ft) from its base.
But in fact, Teide stretches down 7,500 meters (24,606 feet) to the ocean floor, making it the third tallest volcanic structure on Earth.
A 190 square kilometre (73 square mile) zone around the summit is protected under the Teide National Park. Since 2007, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Teide is a typical stratovolcano with a steep coned peak formed of various layers of dense lava flows and rock fragments.
A second volcano, Pico Viejo, is located on the base of Teide’s eastern slopes. Viejo is characterised by a 720 metre-wide (2362.2 feet) explosion crater.
The volcano complex is estimated to have been created about 170,000 to 200,000 years ago.
The two volcanoes are surrounded by a band of lush greenery including the Canary Island Pine, which has adapted to withstand fire.
When did Mount Teide last erupt?
Mount Tiede’s eruptions are said to have been possibly recorded by Christopher Columbus in 1492.
The legendary traveller supposedly saw “a great fire” on the Island during his monumental voyage to discover the New World.
But the last explosion took place in 1909, with an eruption on the northeastern Santiago Ridge.
Volcanic activity on the island has been a regular occurrence over the centuries and the mountain is closely monitored by Tenerife’s agencies.