Recent earthquakes in Colombia
Colombia sits at a complex junction of the Nazca, Caribbean, and South American plates, with the Nazca Plate subducting along the Pacific coast and the Caribbean Plate interacting to the north. Beneath the Andes near Bucaramanga lies the 'Nest,' a cluster of intermediate-depth earthquakes among the most concentrated on Earth. The 1906 Ecuador-Colombia earthquake (M8.8) ruptured the shared offshore boundary. In the past 24 hours, Colombia has recorded no earthquakes above the reporting threshold.
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.3 | Oct 26, 04:25 UTC | 84 km | 44 km SW of Sipí, Colombia |
| M4.2 | Oct 23, 04:29 UTC | 59 km | 14 km WNW of Ituango, Colombia |
Notable recent activity
An M4.3 earthquake struck 44 km SW of Sipí, Colombia at 04:25 UTC on Oct 26 at a depth of 84 km.
An M4.2 earthquake struck 14 km WNW of Ituango, Colombia at 04:29 UTC on Oct 23 at a depth of 59 km.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Colombia have earthquakes?
Colombia lies where three tectonic plates meet. The Nazca Plate subducts beneath the Pacific coast, the Caribbean Plate converges from the north, and the Andes host numerous active crustal faults, together producing frequent shallow and deep earthquakes.
What is the Bucaramanga Nest?
The Bucaramanga Nest is a small volume of crust beneath northeastern Colombia that produces an unusually dense cluster of intermediate-depth earthquakes, around 150 km down. It is one of the most concentrated sources of seismicity anywhere and reflects the complex subducted slab below the Andes.
What was the biggest earthquake in Colombia?
The January 31, 1906 magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the Colombia-Ecuador coast is the largest to affect Colombia. Inland, the 1875 Cúcuta earthquake and 1999 Armenia earthquake (M6.2) were among the most destructive.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.