Volcanic Alert: A Drill for Safety
The Tenerife Island Council (Cabildo de Tenerife), together with the Canary Islands Emergency Services (112), recently sent an alert to the mobile phones of Tenerife residents warning of a supposed volcanic eruption. However, Civil Protection was quick to clarify that this was only a test drill and that, for the moment, the actual risk of an eruption remains low. These simulations are crucial for ensuring the island’s population is prepared should a real volcanic event occur, allowing authorities to evaluate response coordination and remind citizens of the importance of following official instructions.
Simulating a Magmatic Intrusion
On Wednesday, September 24th, the Tenerife Island Council announced the activation of the Island Plan for Volcanic Risk (PAIV) on its social media channels. The message caused a momentary scare among thousands of residents who feared it was a real alarm. The preventive exercise began at 1:00 PM under a pre-alert situation, focusing on training both the public and emergency services. The simulated scenario involved a magmatic intrusion in the northwestern municipalities of Garachico, Icod de los Vinos, El Tanque, Los Silos, Buenavista del Norte, Guía de Isora, and Santiago del Teide—an event that could potentially lead to a short-term eruption in reality.
Activated Safety Measures
As part of the drill, authorities simulated the closure of road access to Teide National Park, the forest crown, and Teno Rural Park, along with the shutting of trails and footpaths. Hunting activities were also prohibited in the affected areas. The Council repeatedly emphasized the preventive nature of the simulation, aiming to equip citizens with the knowledge of how to act during a real volcanic emergency. During the test, the official volcanic traffic light was set to yellow, indicating increased seismic activity and signaling the population to begin preparatory measures.
Understanding the Volcanic Traffic Light
The volcanic traffic light is the official system used in the Canary Islands to communicate the level of volcanic risk to the public. Managed by the Special Plan for Civil Protection and Emergency Attention due to Volcanic Risk (PEVOLCA), it functions as a color-coded guide to the current situation and necessary precautions.
Green: Normal. No signs of significant volcanic activity. Routine monitoring is in place.
Yellow: Pre-alert. Changes in seismic or volcanic activity are detected that could evolve. Surveillance is intensified, and the public is advised to pay attention to official information.
Orange: Alert. The probability of an eruption is high in the short term. Evacuation plans are prepared, and strict adherence to instructions from Civil Protection and 112 is recommended.
Red: Emergency. A volcanic eruption is confirmed to be in progress or imminent. Immediate protective measures are applied, including evacuations in risk zones. Currently, the indicator is at green, meaning there is no real risk of an eruption.
Testing the ES Alert System
On Friday, September 26th, a test of the ES Alert system—the tool for mass public warnings in serious emergencies—was scheduled. During this drill, citizens received a message on their mobile phones accompanied by a loud sound and vibration. The alert simply asked recipients to press “accept.” The 112 service stressed that no one should call emergency lines, as it was purely a preventive exercise.
ES Alert allows messages to be sent to every device connected to mobile network antennas in an affected area. In a real emergency, this system ensures the population receives immediate, official instructions to act quickly and safely. Authorities remind everyone that their phones should be enabled to receive these notifications and that personal information will never be requested through the system. These tests reinforce the Canary Islands’ preparedness for natural risks like volcanic eruptions, an inherent part of life in the archipelago.
