In a shocking event, a strong earthquake shook Colombia this Sunday, leaving a trail of worry in its wake and reviving the memory of recent seismic events. The Colombian Geological Service confirmed that the earthquake was recorded with notable intensity at noon on January 21, 2024, reaching 5.4 degrees of magnitude.
The epicenter of this earthquake was located in the municipality of Los Santos, Santander, an area known for its constant seismic activity due to a geological fault present almost daily. At 12:19 pm, with a depth of 149 kilometers, the shaking was strongly felt in various capitals, including Bucaramanga, Bogotá, Tunja, Medellín and the Coffee Region.
“Super strong; he felt hard in Bogotá; “Medellín, busy afternoon,” were some of the reactions of citizens after the seismic experience.
So far, authorities have not reported any casualties, but are carrying out a national sweep to assess possible damage. At 1:11 in the afternoon, a 3.5-degree aftershock was recorded, intensifying the population’s concern.
This earthquake brings to mind the recent tremor of February 19 in Ansermanuevo, Valle del Cauca, of magnitude 5.6, which resulted in one fatality and multiple affected homes.
Why do tremors occur in Colombia?
National Geographic explains that most earthquakes in Colombia are generated in geological fault zones, where tectonic plates collide or slide, releasing energy in the form of seismic waves. Although most of these shocks are imperceptible, sometimes the buildup of tension between the plates can result in significant tremors that propagate through the rock to the surface.
Can an earthquake in Colombia be predicted?
The Colombian Geological Service (SGC) emphasizes that it is not possible to predict an earthquake in the country, since the movements of the tectonic plates are sudden and do not follow a specific pattern. The entity maintains that the impossibility of determining when earthquakes will occur is due to the accumulation of energy at uncontrollable depths in the subsoil, without predictable patterns in the fractures of the Earth’s crust.