Colombia quake magnitude 7.4 hits San José del Palmar

A powerful earthquake struck western Colombia early on Monday, causing structural damage and injuries as tremors rippled across the region. The quake’s epicenter was located near San José del Palmar in Chocó province, close to the Pacific coast, with shaking felt as far away as Bogota, Ecuador’s capital Quito, and parts of Panama and Venezuela. Local officials reported severe damage in Quibdó, the provincial capital, home to roughly 150,000 people, and expressed concern over potential aftershocks.

The U.S. Geological Survey initially measured the quake at magnitude 7.4, though Colombia’s national geological authority later recorded a slightly lower reading. The temblor originated deep underground—about 107 kilometers below the surface—helping to explain why shaking was felt across much of western Colombia. Authorities said the quake struck just south of Tatamá National Nature Reserve, near the province’s eastern border with Risaralda. The tremors were strong enough to reach Colombia’s three largest cities—Bogota, Medellín, and Cali—though no major damage has been reported there so far.

In the nearby city of Cartago, about 30 kilometers from the epicenter and home to roughly 140,000 people, residents described strong jolts that sent furniture shaking and sparked brief power outages. Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba-Curi said emergency teams were already conducting damage assessments in Quibdó, where injuries and collapsed buildings were reported. She urged residents to remain alert and avoid damaged structures as aftershocks continue to rattle the region.

The quake highlights Colombia’s vulnerability to seismic activity, especially along the Pacific coast where tectonic plates collide. While deep tremors generally cause less surface destruction than shallow ones, the widespread shaking still poses risks to older buildings and infrastructure. Authorities are expected to release updated damage reports in the coming hours, and rescue teams remain on standby as more information becomes available. The event serves as a reminder of the region’s geologic instability and the need for continued preparedness.