|  The National Geographic Institute (IGN) recorded 14 seismic movements in El Hierro, the smallest of the Canary Islands, during the early hours of this morning, all of them to the north east of the town of Frontera and all below 2.5 on the Richter scale.
The first of today's earthquakes was recorded at 00.14 hours and had a magnitude of 1.7 and occurred 19 kilometres below sea level to the north east of Frontera, on the island's northen side.
The biggest of all, measuring 2.5 on the Richter scale, happened at 02.30 hours and 20 kilometres down below the earth's surface.
Scientists working in the area yesterday also recorded greatly increased quanities of helium and carbon dioxide dissolved in the sea water to the south of La Restinga, right next to the area where the biggest bubble of volcanic gases is constantly bursting. The helium level in the water has reached levels of between 4,000 and 35,000 times greater than normal levels for sea water. |
