A fresh tremor measuring 5.1 in magnitude rocked Colombia on Wednesday, exactly two weeks following the catastrophic 7.4 earthquake that resulted in hundreds of fatalities across the nation.
The Colombian Geological Service (SGC) verified that the earthquake's epicenter was located in Los Santos, Santander, at a depth of 149 kilometers, occurring at 11:45 a.m. local time.
The SGC clarified that the epicenter was situated seven kilometers from Los Santos, ten from Jordán, and 17 from Zapatoca, all within the department of Santander.
Initially, the agency had recorded a magnitude of 5.4, which was later revised to 5.1 shortly after the alert was issued.
According to the EFE agency, this tremor was the strongest recorded in Colombia since the August 10 earthquake, highlighting the ongoing seismic activity that keeps the Colombian populace on edge.
The quake was felt across a broad swath of the country. In Bucaramanga, the capital of Santander and the city nearest to the epicenter, the quake was strongly felt: evacuation alarms were triggered in buildings, and several schools requested parents to pick up their children. Many people took to the streets during the event.
In Bogotá, approximately 280 kilometers from the epicenter, residents described the tremor as "sharp and brief" in high-rise buildings. Evacuations were reported in the Chapinero neighborhood and several office buildings in the capital.
The tremor was also reported in Medellín, Cúcuta, Ibagué, Manizales, Rionegro, Soacha, Itagüí, Barrancabermeja, Barichara, and Barbosa, among other locations.
Over 800 citizen responses were collected on the SGC's post on the social network X, reporting the tremor's impact in various areas of the country.
As of the current reports, authorities had not reported any casualties, injuries, or material damage attributed to Wednesday's earthquake.
This latest tremor comes during a period of heightened social sensitivity. The August 10 earthquake, centered in San José del Palmar, Chocó, was the most destructive in Colombia in decades, with an official toll of 329 dead, 4,600 injured, 247 missing, and over 154,000 families affected, according to government data released on August 21.
Since that major earthquake, more than 325 aftershocks have been recorded, with magnitudes reaching up to 4.8. The region in Santander where Wednesday's quake occurred is known as the Bucaramanga Seismic Nest, one of the world's areas with the highest concentration of deep earthquakes, making tremors a common occurrence in this region.
The greater depth of Wednesday's quake—149 kilometers compared to the 96-110 kilometers of the August earthquake—partially explains why it could be felt over a broad area of the country without causing the devastation of the catastrophe two weeks ago.
Understanding the Recent Colombian Earthquakes
What was the magnitude of the latest earthquake in Colombia?
The most recent earthquake in Colombia measured 5.1 in magnitude.
Where was the epicenter of the earthquake?
The epicenter was located in Los Santos, Santander, at a depth of 149 kilometers.
How did the earthquake affect Bucaramanga?
In Bucaramanga, the quake was strongly felt, triggering evacuation alarms in buildings and prompting some schools to ask parents to collect their children.
What is the Bucaramanga Seismic Nest?
The Bucaramanga Seismic Nest is one of the world's areas with the highest concentration of deep earthquakes, located in Santander, Colombia.