Did the earth move for you?

Writer Joe Cawley has recently started counting earthquakes in Spain and he's up to 38 in the last 10 days, including 3 in the Canary Islands.

Earthquake tremors happen pretty regularly around the Canary Islands, so there is probably not much to worry about (she says, crossing her fingers), although I suspect some vulcanologists - folk who study volcanoes not the pointy eared beings off Star Trek - might be paid to tell the archipelago's inhabitants to keep calm and carry on.

Certainly, in context of the recent events in Italy, my guess is folk might be a tad mildly concerned. Indeed, this article in Canarias7 on Tuesday, suggests that the Canary Islands see themselves in the mirror of the Italian disaster and that, "The Canaries could suffer an earthquake similar to that which last week destroyed the Italian city of L'Aquila." Perhaps they could, being the operative word.

The article is quick to point out, however, that seismic activity in the islands is very different to that in Italy. Perhaps it is, but I'm not prepared to translate any of the science, because how would I know whether it was accurate or not?

Historically, however, according to investigations carried out by professor Carmen Romero of the University of La Laguna, the earthquakes prior to the volcanic eruptions of Siete Fuentes, Fasnia and Arafo, between 1704 and 1705, cost around 15 human lives in the Valle de Güímar and it's documented that at least 22 people have died in pre-eruption earthquakes in the Canary Islands.

Apparently, though, say the experts, it's not the earthquakes that kill. Poor construction and bad planning of where to build, causes the problems.

Now that, indeed, might give Tenerife residents cause to be really worried!

As I already, flippantly, replied to someone, the tremors were not strong enough to reach me, but then I'm currently in the UK, so I'd hope not really!   So, did you feel any of the latest tremors? Do you feel there's cause for concern?

Image: Instituto Geográfico Nacional, the red star marks the epicentre of the 2.1 magnitude quake which took place shortly after 6 a.m. on April 12th.