Tenerife and Garachico Prepare for Spain’s Most Significant Eruption Simulation with Science, Cinema, and Volcanic Coffee
The Cabildo of Tenerife is rolling out an extensive cultural and educational programme from 22nd to 27th September, as part of Spain’s first real volcanic eruption exercise
The Cabildo of Tenerife is launching a comprehensive cultural and educational programme in Garachico from 22nd to 27th September as part of the EU-Modex Tenerife 2025, the first volcanic eruption simulation in Spain, under the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).
According to President Rosa Dávila, “this is one of the most important weeks for prevention and safety in Tenerife. The island has never before outlined a protection framework of this scale. However, the most crucial aspect is the awareness of the residents, so they can see and understand how we need to protect ourselves looking forward.”
The activities aim to engage the public with scientific knowledge about volcanoes, volcanic risk management, and emergency prevention, complementing the volcanic eruption simulation scheduled for Friday, 26th September, involving over 1,000 national and international personnel.
Tenerife, characterised by its unique volcanic geology, especially in Garachico—a historic town symbolising resilience after the Trevejo volcano eruption in 1706—serves as a prime location for the simulation. Alongside the field exercise, the cultural week associated with EU-Modex Tenerife 2025 offers an extensive overview of volcanic knowledge, risk prevention, and environmental education, integrating history, science, and outreach in a setting of exceptional heritage and scientific value.
The Councillor for Natural Environment, Sustainability, Safety, and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez, further asserted that Tenerife is well-prepared for the emergency simulation. “This exercise will help us identify our strengths and weaknesses, but above all, we must continue improving our readiness.”
Throughout the week, the Espacio Cultural CajaCanarias in Garachico will host exhibitions such as “Canaries… I am Volcano, Saltpetre, and Lava” (Involcan-IGN-CSIC) and the drawing competition “Volcanoes and Art” (Involcan). Additionally, public talks and conferences will be held for the school community, organised by institutions such as the CSIC, the Official College of Property Administrators, the Official College of Notaries, and the Official College of Veterinarians. Subjects will include crisis management, legal security in volcanic emergencies, animal care, and post-eruption resilience.
The ‘Volcanoes in Film’ series will present daily documentaries about the volcanoes of the Canary Islands and the Atlantic, while Volcanic Coffee sessions will enable direct meetings with researchers discussing eruptive history, geothermal energy, tourism, and the internal structure of volcanoes. Geotourism routes through Garachico’s historic centre and performances by local music groups will also promote the integration of culture, science, and education in an accessible format for the entire community.
All activities are free and open to the public, aimed at raising awareness, education, and prevention, positioning Garachico and Tenerife as leaders in volcanic emergency preparedness and scientific dissemination.
Full Programme
Monday, 22nd September
- Exhibition on volcanic phenomena and volcanic risk management, open to the public from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 15:00 onwards at Espacio Cultural CajaCanarias, featuring “Canaries… I am Volcano, Saltpetre, and Lava” (Involcan) and “Volcanic Monitoring in the Canary Islands and its Role during Emergencies” (National Geographic Institute).
- Interactive talks and conferences for the school community (during school hours).
- Open talks: “The Property Administrator: Your Ally in an Emergency” (Official College of Property Administrators) from 18:00 to 19:00 and “Science in Emergencies” (CSIC) from 19:00 to 20:00.
- Film screening in the Volcanoes in Film series (Involcan): “Active Volcanoes of Macaronesia” starting at 21:00.
Tuesday, 23rd September
- Exhibition on volcanic phenomena and volcanic risk management, open to the public from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 15:00 onwards (Involcan).
- “Volcanic Monitoring in the Canary Islands and its Role during Emergencies” (National Geographic Institute).
- Interactive talks and conferences for the school community.
- Training on Personal Protective Equipment with Gases (General Directorate of Safety and Emergencies) from 11:00 to 13:00.
- Open talks: “Legal Security Regarding Volcanic Risk” (Official College of Notaries) from 18:00 to 19:00.
- Volcanic Coffee sessions and meetings with scientists in Garachico: Kiosko in Plaza de La Libertad from 18:00 to 20:00 with Dr Carmen Romero Ruiz (ULL) on the Arenas Negras Eruption (1706) and Dr Javier Dóniz (ULL) on Volcanoes & Tourism.
- Film screening: “Teneguía, the Friendly Volcano” starting at 21:00.
Wednesday, 24th September
- Fire Prevention Workshops (Tenerife Fire Consortium and Brifor) from 10:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 18:00 at the Muelle Viejo in Garachico.
- Exhibition of the drawing competition “Volcanoes and Art” (Involcan) from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 15:00 onwards.
- Exhibition “Canaries… I am Volcano, Saltpetre, and Lava” (Involcan-IGN-CSIC).
- “Volcanic Monitoring in the Canary Islands and its Role during Emergencies” (National Geographic Institute).
- Training on Personal Protective Equipment with Gases from 11:00 to 13:00.
- Talks: “New Approaches to Animal Welfare Protocols during Disasters: The Canary Example” (Official College of Veterinarians) from 18:00 to 19:00 and “Canaries, a Volcanic Window in the Atlantic” (Involcan) from 19:00 to 20:00.
- Film screening: “Gran Canaria, an Island Shaped by Time” starting at 21:00.
Thursday, 25th September
- Exhibition of the drawing competition “Volcanoes and Art” (Involcan): Open to the public from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 15:00 onwards (Espacio Cultural CajaCanarias).
- Exhibition on volcanic phenomena and risk management: “Canaries… I am Volcano, Saltpetre, and Lava” (Involcan). Open to the public from 10:00 to 14:00 (daily) and from 15:00 onwards (Espacio Cultural CajaCanarias).
- “Volcanic Monitoring in the Canary Islands and its Role during Emergencies” (National Geographic Institute).
- Training on Personal Protective Equipment with Gases from 11:00 to 13:00.
- Talks: “The Consortium for Compensation of Insurances and Extraordinarily Risk Insurance” from 18:00 to 19:00 and a talk by the College of Property Registrars from 19:00 to 20:00.
- Informative talk by the College of Property Registrars: from 19:00 to 20:00 (Espacio Cultural CajaCanarias, assembly hall).
- Volcanic Coffee sessions and meetings with scientists in Kiosko in Plaza de La Libertad and Restaurant Proa Norte from 18:00 to 20:00 with Involcan researchers and Canary Islands universities.
- Film screening: “Cumbre Vieja, a Land Forged by Fire” starting at 21:00.
Friday, 26th September
- Audio-visual Space for monitoring the Volcanic Emergency Response Simulation from 09:00 to 14:00 at Plaza de Los Amantes and Plaza de la Libertad.
- Exhibition of the drawing competition: “Volcanoes and Art” (Involcan): Open to the public from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 15:00 onwards (Espacio Cultural CajaCanarias).
- Exhibition on volcanic phenomena and risk management: “Canaries… I am Volcano, Saltpetre, and Lava” (Involcan). Open to the public from 10:00 to 14:00 (daily) and from 15:00 onwards (Espacio Cultural CajaCanarias).
- “Volcanic Monitoring in the Canary Islands and its Role during Emergencies” (National Geographic Institute).
- Urban geotourism routes in Garachico from 16:00 to 19:00 (starting point Muelle Viejo).
- Talks: “Canaries, a Volcanic Window in the Atlantic” from 18:00 to 19:00.
- Film screening: “Teide, the Sleeping Giant” starting at 21:00.
Saturday, 27th September
- Exhibition of the drawing competition: “Volcanoes and Art” (Involcan): Open to the public from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 15:00 onwards (Espacio Cultural CajaCanarias).
- Exhibition on volcanic phenomena and risk management: “Canaries… I am Volcano, Saltpetre, and Lava” (Involcan). Open to the public from 10:00 to 14:00 (daily) and from 15:00 onwards (Espacio Cultural CajaCanarias).
- “Volcanic Monitoring in the Canary Islands and its Role during Emergencies” (National Geographic Institute).
- Urban geotourism routes from 10:00 to 18:00 (starting point Muelle Viejo).
- Musical performances: SON 21 and BenGara dance group at Garachico Town Hall Square (21:00).
