Local time on Monday (August 10), at 7:34 am, a strong earthquake struck Colombia, causing injuries and significant damage.
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) reported the magnitude of the earthquake as 6.8, with a depth of approximately 93 to 115 kilometers. Initial data from agencies like the Australian Geological Survey (GeoAu) had initially recorded the magnitude as 7.3.
The epicenter of the earthquake was near San José del Palmar in Chocó Province, Colombia, about 35 kilometers northwest of Cartago in Valle del Cauca Province.
The earthquake had a depth of around 93 to 115 kilometers, categorizing it as a medium-depth earthquake, with coordinates ranging from approximately 4.86° to 4.95° latitude and 76.16° to 76.19° longitude.
The Governor of Chocó Province, located on the Pacific coast of Colombia, posted on the social platform X, acknowledging that the earthquake had resulted in injuries and significant losses. Reports of tremors were felt in the capital, Bogotá, and even as far as Venezuela.
Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba-Curi expressed concerns on X, stating, “Our province of Chocó has just experienced a strong earthquake. We are concerned about aftershocks. Although the epicenter was near San José del Palmar, there are injuries and severe damage to buildings in the provincial capital of Quibdó. We are currently assessing the extent of the damage and will soon release an official report.”
The Colombian National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) reported the earthquake, which occurred at 7:34 am, as a magnitude 6.6 with a depth of 79 kilometers. They are in constant communication with local authorities to verify potential losses.
Due to the high magnitude and wide impact of this earthquake, several major cities and neighboring countries reported tremors. Bogotá experienced noticeable tremors, causing tall buildings to sway, leading to evacuations of residents and workers onto the streets. Cities like Medellín, Cali, and Manizales also felt strong tremors.
Cities closer to the epicenter such as Cartago, La Virginia, Dosquebradas, and Quibdó experienced moderate to strong shaking. The intensity near the epicenter in Macalí was estimated to be VI on the Mercalli scale (strong shaking).
Even Panama City, approximately 583 kilometers from the epicenter, reported slight tremors.
Currently, disaster response and rescue teams are conducting inspections and assessments of building structures, roads, and public facilities. The deep-seated epicenter has somewhat mitigated catastrophic destruction on the surface, and as of now, there have been no reports of widespread severe casualties.
Geological experts caution that aftershocks may occur in the coming hours to days and advise local residents to remain vigilant and follow official disaster preparedness guidelines.