A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 jolted western Colombia early Monday morning, precisely at 7:34 AM local time. The epicenter was pinpointed in the municipality of San José del Palmar in Chocó department, as reported by both the Colombian Geological Service (SGC) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The quake, which occurred at a depth of 96 kilometers according to the SGC, was felt strongly across much of Colombia. It caused significant injuries and structural damages in Quibdó, the capital of Chocó, which is the closest major city to the epicenter.
Quibdó: The Hardest Hit Area
Nubia Carolina Córdoba Curi, the governor of Chocó, was the first official to confirm the extent of the damage in the region. "We have just experienced a severe seismic event in the Chocó department. We are concerned about aftershocks. Although the epicenter was in San José del Palmar, there are injuries and severe building damage in the capital, Quibdó," she stated on her X account.
The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) swiftly coordinated with local authorities to assess the impact, while the General Maritime Directorate (DIMAR) ruled out any tsunami threat to Colombia's Pacific coast.
Nationwide Tremors
The earthquake was felt in nearly all major cities across the nation, including Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Manizales, Pereira, and Barranquilla, as reported by El Tiempo.
In Bogotá, approximately 280 kilometers east of the epicenter, alarms were triggered, prompting hundreds of people to evacuate buildings as a precaution. Mayor Carlos Galán announced on X that "as of now, there are no reports of significant damage or structural issues, only minor cracks in some buildings."
In Manizales, the situation was more alarming: social media images revealed that one of the cathedral's towers suffered severe damage and was precariously leaning on the main structure.
The mayor of Medellín reported "a strong tremor" and stated that authorities were still assessing any potential damage in the city.
International Repercussions
The seismic activity was also noticed beyond Colombia's borders, according to CNN en Español.
In Ecuador, the National Risk Management Secretariat noted that the quake was "lightly felt in Los Ríos, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Esmeraldas, and Guayas; and moderately in Pichincha and Imbabura." There were also reports of tremors in Panama, though no official confirmation of damage was provided for either neighboring country.
A Seismically Active Region
Colombia is one of Latin America's most seismically active countries due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the Nazca and South American plates converge.
The Chocó department, situated on the Pacific coast, is designated as a high seismic threat area under the Colombian NSR-10 code. The region has a history of destructive events: the 1979 Tumaco earthquake triggered a tsunami, the 1983 Popayán earthquake resulted in hundreds of casualties, and the 1999 Armenia earthquake claimed over 1,000 lives, devastating much of the city.
This recent earthquake comes just weeks after a double earthquake with magnitudes of 7.1 and 7.5 struck Venezuela in June, resulting in over 4,300 deaths as per Venezuelan government statistics, marking it as the most powerful quake recorded in Venezuela since 1900.
Colombian authorities are actively monitoring the situation for potential aftershocks, and damage assessment in Chocó is ongoing.
Questions About the Recent Colombian Earthquake
What was the magnitude of the earthquake that struck Colombia?
The earthquake that struck Colombia had a magnitude of 7.4, according to reports from the Colombian Geological Service and the United States Geological Survey.
Where was the epicenter of the Colombian earthquake?
The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the municipality of San José del Palmar in the Chocó department of Colombia.
Which areas were most affected by the earthquake?
Quibdó, the capital of Chocó, was the most affected area, experiencing significant injuries and structural damage.
Did the earthquake have any impact outside of Colombia?
Yes, the earthquake was felt in neighboring countries such as Ecuador and Panama, although no official reports of damage have been confirmed.