Strong and shallow M6.0 earthquake hits Colombia

A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit Colombia at 19:03 UTC (14:03 LT) on December 24, 2019, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.0 at a depth of 5 km (3.1 miles). The quake was followed by M5.8 at 19:19 UTC. This is the fourth M6.0 earthquake in the past 24 hours.

The epicenter was located 4.8 km (2.9 miles) SSE of Lejanias (population 5 157), 33.4 km (20.7 miles) W of Grenada (population 32 365) and 40.6 km (25.2 miles) SW of San Martin (population 16 273), Colombia.

There are 880 000 people living within 100 km (62 miles).

26 000 people are estimated to have felt strong shaking, 108 000 moderate, 10 242 000 light and 2 199 000 weak.

The USGS issued a green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are mud wall with wood and ductile reinforced concrete frame construction.

Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.

Image credit: TW/SAM, Google

This is the fourth M6.0 earthquake in the past 24 hours.

A strong and shallow M6.0 earthquake hit off the coast of Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada at 19:49 UTC on December 23, 2019, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). Earthquakes Canada reported it as M5.8 at a depth of 5 km (3.1 miles), preceded by M5.1 and M5.6 at 16:44 and 19:13 UTC, respectively, and followed by M6.0 at 20:56 and M4.8 at 23:38 UTC.

A deep earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit northern Argentina at 16:43 UTC (13:43 local time) on December 24, 2019, at a depth of 560 km (347 miles). 

Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking

Selected cities exposed

Regional seismicity

Featured image credit: TW/SAM, Google