Magnitude 5.1 earthquake shakes Colombia and prompts evacuations in Bogotá

An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 was recorded in Colombia on August 26, with its epicenter located in Los Santos, in the Santander region. The tremor was noticed in several Colombian locations, leading to the evacuation of buildings in the capital, Bogotá. So far, authorities have not reported any damage or casualties.

The Colombian Geological Survey (SGC) reported that the seismic event occurred at 11:45 am local time, corresponding to 1:45 pm Brasília time, with a depth of approximately 149 kilometers. Initially, the agency’s preliminary bulletin indicated a magnitude of 5.4 and a depth of 140 kilometers, however, these numbers were adjusted after review.

The Los Santos area, in the department of Santander, where the epicenter was located, is recognized for its intense seismic activity. The earthquake was felt in several cities across the country, including Bogotá.

In the Colombian capital, Bogotá, residents of some buildings decided to evacuate the premises for safety, shortly after feeling ground movement. Local authorities reiterated that there were no reports of injuries or structures compromised as a result of the earthquake.

Learn more: Airports in Colombia suffer from 7.4 earthquake that suspends flights and leaves people dead

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The SGC issued a statement encouraging citizens who noticed the tremor to record their experiences on the entity’s official digital platform.

On the same topic: Earthquake in Colombia: deaths reach 294 and balance points to thousands of people affected

Previous large seismic event hit Colombia

This new earthquake on August 26th comes about two weeks after another earthquake, of magnitude 7.4, that shook Colombia on August 10th. That event caused hundreds of deaths and resulted in thousands of damaged properties, especially in the Chocó area.

The two seismic incidents are considered independent, and there is no evidence connecting the recent shaking to the previous 7.4 earthquake. The current tremor had its epicenter in Los Santos, in the department of Santander, and was recorded at a depth of 149 kilometers, according to data from the Colombian Geological Survey.