Although there is no risk of seismic activity in Lanzarote, the Island is a national meeting point for specialists in volcanology. The Canary Islands, an archipelago of volcanic origin, "is a dormant territory." But the archipelago remains a center for studies of this science, which has revealed its own mechanisms to detect any risk in advance.
Given the possibility that one day one of our volcanoes may become active, detection mechanisms already exist in Lanzarote. The House of Volcanoes began on Friday the XIX Edition of Courses on volcanic geophysics, which was attended by only ten students from different parts of the world specializing in volcanology.
The presentations, which will deal with detection, forecasting and disaster management, will be given by world-renowned experts. This is the case of Marino Martín, professor at the University of Florence, who assures that "it is necessary to know how to carry out an emergency system in the event of a possible volcanic eruption." The expert stated that in the archipelago, despite the presence of magma, there are no conduits that allow lava to pass to the surface through a volcanic eruption. Regarding our volcanoes, he highlighted that "although Teide is a volcano and there are many in Lanzarote, there is no risk whatsoever." In any case, he continues, "the islands are equipped with means to identify a possible risk in advance."
In addition to the specialized course, the Cabildo of Lanzarote, through the area of new Technologies, is organizing a parallel course in volcanology for emergency personnel on the Island, with a view to knowing how to act and organize a protocol of action in case of seismic activity. Both the expert course and the Civil Protection, Red Cross and Firefighters courses will take place until June 2.
