Authorities in Tenerife are preparing new emergency plans amid growing scientific interest in unusual seismic activity on the island, with local leaders acknowledging that while an eruption is not imminent, officials must be ready for any scenario.

The council in Santa Cruz de Tenerife has begun developing an official contingency plan in case of a volcanic eruption, as the popular Canary Islands holiday destination reviews its capacity to accommodate residents evacuated from other municipalities. The move comes as thousands of British tourists continue to visit the island each week.

Santa Cruz Mayor Jose Manuel Bermudez confirmed that a specialised technical department has been established to design an action plan for a potential volcanic emergency. The strategy aims to strengthen the city’s preparedness and ensure the capital can provide shelter and services if the surrounding areas need to be evacuated.

Bermudez said the city would likely be able to handle a moderate emergency using its existing infrastructure, including public facilities and accommodation capacity. However, he acknowledged that a large-scale eruption could present more serious challenges.

“We don’t know how it will happen, how it will develop, or when it might occur,” he said. “But scientists have indicated that current volcanic developments on the island are not something normal.”

Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, sits within a volcanically active region of the Atlantic. The island’s landscape is dominated by the towering Mount Teide, Spain’s highest peak and an active volcano that last erupted in 1909.

Local officials have sought to calm fears following reports of increased seismic activity detected by monitoring networks. The president of the island’s governing council, the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Davila, previously downplayed speculation about an imminent eruption.

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Speaking last month, Davila said the recent increase in seismic signals is most likely linked to pressure changes in the island’s hydrothermal system caused by gas injection, rather than magma movement.

“The aim is to keep the island as prepared as possible,” she said. “Right now, it is more prepared than ever.”

Scientists continue to closely monitor the island. Itahiza Dominguez, director of the Canary Islands branch of the National Geographic Institute, highlighted unusual seismic signals detected earlier this year.

“We saw a small pulse similar to Tuesdays but it only lasted about seven or eight minutes,” Dominguez explained in a February statement. “In the last 10 years, we have detected low frequency signals, but they usually last four or five minutes. Never, until Tuesday, have we seen such a prolonged signal.”

Despite the increased monitoring and planning, officials stress that Tenerife remains safe for residents and visitors. The contingency planning effort is intended as a precaution rather than a response to an imminent threat.

For now, authorities say the focus is on preparedness, ensuring the island can respond quickly and effectively should volcanic activity escalate in the future.