Magnitude 5.1 quake hits Colombia, two weeks after deadly tremor

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck central Colombia on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, with its epicenter in Los Santos, Santander, at a depth of 149 kilometers. The quake, which occurred at 11:45 a.m. local time, was felt across several departments and prompted precautionary evacuations in Bogotá. No casualties or major damage have been reported Source: El Tiempo. This is the strongest tremor since the devastating magnitude 7.4 earthquake on August 10, which has killed at least 331 people and left 240 missing Source: El Nacional.

Seismic context

The Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC) initially reported the magnitude as 5.4 but later revised it to 5.1, a standard adjustment after analysis. The quake originated in the Bucaramanga seismic nest, a region with high seismic activity. The SGC clarified that this event is not a direct aftershock of the Chocó earthquake, as it occurred in a different region and is related to subduction processes Source: La República.

Impact and response

Authorities, including the UNGRD, are monitoring the situation. The SGC received over 2,000 reports of the tremor from more than 100 municipalities, mainly in Santander, Boyacá, and Antioquia Source: El Tiempo. In Bogotá, buildings were evacuated as a precaution. The quake was felt in Santander, Norte de Santander, Arauca, Boyacá, Cundinamarca, and other regions Source: Milenio.

Background

This event comes amid heightened sensitivity following the August 10 earthquake, which caused widespread destruction in western Colombia and the coffee region. The government has declared an economic emergency, with reconstruction costs estimated at US$9.57 billion Source: La Voz.