A devastating mudflow struck Quetame, Colombia, late on July 17, 2023, resulting in at least 20 fatalities and leaving 9 individuals missing. The disaster, precipitated by intense rainfall, also led to significant property damage, including the destruction of several homes and a key trade route.
After 89 days of Orange alert due to increased seismic activity, Colombia’s geological service lowered the Nevado del Ruiz volcano’s alert level to Yellow on June 27, 2023. The de-escalation follows a period of decreased instability, paving the way for the potential easing of preventative measures.
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.6 hit the Panama-Colombia border region at 03:05 UTC on May 25, 2023. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.6 at a depth of 40 km (25 miles).
Colombian officials began to evacuate people living on the slopes of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano on Monday, April 3, 2023. The decision follows the highest levels of seismicity since the 1985 eruption (VEI 3) when 25 000 people were killed.
A vigorous eruption took place at Nevado del Ruiz volcano, Colombia at 14:02 UTC on March 20, 2023. The Alert Level remains at 3 (Yellow — the second lowest level on a four-color scale). The last major eruption of this volcano occurred in 1985 and resulted in the deaths of over 20 000 people due to lahars.
The Colombian Geological Service (SGC) found changes in vegetation and increased soil temperature during their inspection of the Cerro Machín volcano. The last eruption at this volcano took place in 1180 CE ± 150 years.
A very large landslide destroyed the communities of Parraga Viejo, Santa Clara, La Soledad and Chontaduro in Colombia’s Cauca Department on January 9, 2023. Luckily, growing cracks started appearing several days before the landslide, alerting communities about the risk.
Seismicity under Machín volcano started increasing at 11:23 LT on December 2, 2022, with signals indicating rock fracturing. This small but explosive volcano is located at the southern end of the Ruiz-Tolima massif. Its last eruption took place in 1180 CE.
At least 12 people have lost their lives after a landslide buried a bus in Colombia’s Risaralda Province on December 4, 2022.
An unusually large landslide occurred in the village of El Molino, municipality of Villa Caro, Santander, Colombia on November 10, 2022.
