New tremors rock El Hierro
Fears are raised over possible volcanic eruption
Three strong tremors shook the north part of El Hierro on Sunday, igniting new fears that a volcanic eruption on the tiny Canary Island is imminent.
Two of the underwater tremors measured 3.9 on the Richter scale and were reported early in the morning. A third weaker tremor of 3.2 was felt in the late afternoon.
The first tremor was registered at 7.46am some 22 kilometers underwater, according to the National Geographic Institute (IGN).
The Canaries civil protection agency for volcano emergencies, Pevolca, was scheduled to meet later on Sunday to try to determine whether the tremors signal an upcoming eruption or are new underwater fissures in the earth that release pressure.
For now, authorities do not have plans to evacuate the community of La Frontera where the tremors were felt.
