The Colombian Geological Service (SGC) has reported two seismic events that occurred during the late night and early morning hours of Friday. While there were no reported damages, the tremors caused concern, particularly in the eastern region of the country.
The first tremor was registered at 12:08 a.m. on June 6, measuring 3.4 in magnitude. Its epicenter was located in the municipality of Lenguazaque, within the Cundinamarca department, and it occurred at a depth of 154 kilometers. Residents in the central part of Colombia felt it only slightly.
Just minutes earlier, at 11:34 p.m. on Thursday, June 5, another quake registered a magnitude of 3.8 in the Meta department, specifically in Villavicencio. This tremor was much shallower, occurring at a depth of less than 30 kilometers, and was strongly felt by local residents, especially in taller buildings.
The SGC received 458 reports from citizens via its ‘Sismo Sentido’ tool regarding the Meta tremor; 419 of these reports came from Meta, while others originated from Cundinamarca, Antioquia, Casanare, and Guaviare.
Social media reactions highlighted the intensity of the event: one Villavicencio resident mentioned, “The ground roared, and the buildings on the fifth floor sounded very loud,” while another expressed a personal feeling of unease during such events when alone.
Despite the public’s observations, authorities confirmed that there were no injuries or material damages linked to these seismic occurrences.
In light of the recent events, the SGC emphasized the importance of public reporting through their website and encouraged citizens to enable earthquake alerts on Android devices. The Google earthquake alert system, which operates through the ShakeAlert network of sensors, can provide real-time warnings about seismic activity.
To activate this feature, users can go to Settings on their Android phone, select ‘Security and Emergency,’ then ‘Earthquake Alerts.’ If the option isn’t visible, they should navigate to ‘Location’ > ‘Advanced’ > ‘Earthquake Alerts.’ This functionality can give users seconds of warning before a tremor, allowing for timely responses.
Colombia’s readiness to adapt to seismic events shows a proactive approach to enhancing public safety through technology.