El Hierro wakes to the largest earthquake so far

All indications point to a new eruptive phase
The islanders of El Hierro in The Canaries have woken up this Wednesday morning to a new movement that has shaken the whole island. The National Geographic Institute (IGN) has reported an earthquake of magnitude 4 on the Richter scale near Frontera on the northwest of the island at a depth of 20 kilometers. Followed by smaller aftershocks still continuing

Tremors were felt throughout the island, and took place at 07.56 local time (GMT). This earthquake is one of 40 that have now been observed by the National Geographic Institute in recent days on the north of the island, while some have also been detected in the area of the municipality of El Pinar, in the south, where there has already been one underwater volcanic eruption. Since the beginning of this seismic-volcanic crisis in El Hierro, on 19 July, the National Geographic Institute instruments have recorded a whopping 10,833 earthquakes, but none has so far exceeded 4 on the Richter scale, although it has been close. 

Scientists have not ruled out that there is a new eruption imminent, the Emergency Military Unit (UME) has moved to El Hierro at the request of the Civil Protection Planning Organisation for Islands at Volcanic Risk (Pevolca), with enough shelters to accommodate 2,000 people if necessary, should they face a new evacuation. 

The National Geographic Institute scientists have detected an increase in CO2 levels higher than usual on the island of El Hierro. A situation that commonly occurs in the moments preceding a new eruptive phase, which together with the magnitude of recent earthquakes recorded may be an indicator that a new eruption could take place again in the sea, according to the all indications and data analyzed so far.