Tremor in Colombia today: this is how the seismicity was this April 29, according to the Colombian Geological Service

In the Earth’s crust there are fracture zones that generate earthquakes and are known as active fault systems. In colombia, These areas are located especially in the Andean, Pacific, Caribbean regions and in the Llanero-Amazonian Border.

In the case of Bogotá, the historical record held by the Geological Service of Colombia (SGC) accounts for the occurrence of seven major earthquakes in the last 379 years that have had significant effects on the city.

Besides, Colombia is a country where up to 2,500 earthquakes can occur per month. There is even a place where earthquakes occur practically every day and represents 60% of the seismicity that occurs in Colombia.: the Bucaramanga Seismic Nest, located in the department of Santander, below the municipality of Los Santos.

According to the Colombian Geological Service, The earthquake of January 31, 1906, located in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Esmeraldas, Ecuador and Tumaco, Colombia, with moment magnitude (Mw) estimated at 8.8 degrees, is the largest event with an instrumental record. and that affected Colombian territory.

But in 1970 there was a series of three strong earthquakes that occurred in Bahía Solano on September 26. The earthquake alarmed the residents of the town who took to the streets in fear. Damage occurred such as the cracking of several buildings, the collapse of two houses and the rupture of aqueduct pipes, which caused some neighborhoods to flood.

The earthquakes were felt in the northwest and center of the country, but only caused considerable damage in Bahía Solano. Between September 26 and 27, more than 15 aftershocks were recorded with magnitudes greater than or equal to 4 degrees.

In less than an hour it trembled twice in Colombian territory. The first occurred around 12:28 pm in the municipality of Los Santos, Santander with a magnitude of 3.3 and a depth of 152 kilometers. so it is possible that not all its inhabitants felt it.

The second earthquake occurred in the municipality of Nariño, department of Nariño, near the area of ​​influence of the Galeras Volcano, with a magnitude of 2.7 and a depth of 9 kilometers. At the moment, the authorities have not reported any type of impact on the towns near the earthworks.

In the last hour, there was great seismic activity in the country, according to the SGC, at 12:25 pm a magnitude 2 earthquake was recorded in Cesar, three minutes later in the municipality of Los Santos in Santander an earthquake occurred of 3.3

Finally, at 12:33 pm in the department of Boyacá, in the region of San Luis de Gaceno, an earthquake of magnitude 2.2 was recorded.

The El Niño Phenomenon is a climate event that is mainly characterized by the anomalous warming of the waters of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, which can lead to significant changes in global precipitation and temperature patterns. This phenomenon has a notable impact on climatic conditions, agriculture, water resources and the management of natural disasters in various parts of the world, including Colombia.

Regarding the relationship between the El Niño Phenomenon and earthquakes, it is important to highlight that earthquakes are the result of geological processes, specifically the movement of the Earth’s tectonic plates. These movements occur due to the buildup of stresses at plate boundaries, which are eventually released in the form of earthquakes.

To date, science has not established a direct connection between the El Niño Phenomenon and the occurrence or intensity of earthquakes.

In colombia, The European Macroseismic Scale (EMS-98) is used to measure the intensity of earthquakes. On this scale, intensity 2 is described as “barely felt” by very few people at rest; Level 3 is classified as “slightly felt,” where there may be a slight sway of some objects.

When a tremor reaches intensity 4, it is considered “widely felt.” by many people inside buildings and by few outside (windows, doors). At level 5, classified as “strongly felt,” small objects move and slight cracks may appear in buildings or houses.

An intensity of type 6 implies “mild damage”, where some people could lose their balance. Level 7 is reached when there is “moderate damage.”

Although Colombia enjoys a biodiversity-rich and geographically favorable location, It also sits in a territory prone to frequent shifts of tectonic plates, which can almost be considered daily, although they are usually not noticeable.

However, when these events reach considerable magnitudes and originate at shallow depths, the ‘tremors’ naturally generate concern and fear among the population, situation that is exploited by malicious subjects to create panic unnecessarily, a situation that has intensified with the increase in the use of social networks and instant messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, favorite means to spread disinformation about these natural events, through what are known as chains.

The Colombian Geological Service (SGC) reminds us that predicting earthquakes is impossible, given that a technology or method has not yet been developed to anticipate such tectonic movements.

They also mention that, generally, after an earthquake, aftershocks are likely to occur, especially if these events occur in areas prone to seismic activity and that are located on active faults, as is the case in this country.

But they emphasize that, despite having this information, it is not feasible to predict the occurrence of an earthquake.

“Scientifically, it is not possible to predict the location, magnitude or date on which earthquakes will occur. From the SGC we continue to call on Colombians to inform themselves about this type of geothreats through our social networks and official sources, to avoid spreading false and inaccurate messages. Help us share this information! (sic)”, they stated.