On the morning of January 19, a powerful earthquake of magnitude 5.6 shook the southwest region of Colombia, leaving residents in shock and concern. The tremor, which was felt in various cities such as Cali, Pereira, Armenia, and Medellín, had its epicenter in the municipality of Ansermanuevo, Valle del Cauca at a depth of 33 kilometers. The Colombian Geological Service (SGC) reported that the tremor occurred at 6:26 am and was accompanied by four aftershocks, one of them with a magnitude of 2.8.
Despite the strong intensity of the earthquake, authorities have not received any reports of damage or injuries so far. However, relief organizations have already begun to carry out rounds in the epicenter area to determine if there was any impact from the tremor. The SGC classified the earthquake as a level 7 on the EMS-98 scale, which ranges from 2 to 8, indicating a very strong intensity with potential for severe damage.
The aftershocks recorded after the main quake, measuring 3.6 and 3.7, also caused concern as they could potentially cause damage to infrastructure. These smaller tremors were felt in the municipalities of Santa Rosa de Cabal, Risaralda, and Ansermanuevo. Authorities will continue to monitor the situation in these areas to ensure the safety of the inhabitants.
As citizens try to recover from the shock of this recent earthquake, experts warn of the possibility of future tremors in the region.