A 5.0-magnitude earthquake struck near Colombia’s capital of Bogota at 3:35 p.m. EDT on Thursday.
“For this region, it’s not unusual to have earthquakes of this size,” said Susan Potter, a geophysicist for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The earthquake’s epicenter was in the western mountain regions near Sumapaz National Park, which mapping shows to be not densely populated. The 40-mile deep epicenter was 80 miles west-southwest of the capital. The earthquake was felt in many parts of the country.
Potter said that over roughly the past 30 years, 50 earthquakes of similar size have happened within 120 miles of Thursday’s quake.
“Looking at earthquakes that have happened even before that, before the 1970s or so, there have been many bigger earthquakes … Comparing to those very large earthquakes, the earthquakes today are a lot smaller and release a lot less energy,” she said.
As of 8 p.m., 223 individuals had reported feeling the earthquake to the USGS.
No aftershocks have been associated with this earthquake and no casualties or damage have so far been reported.
“For this region, it’s not unusual to have earthquakes of this size,” said Susan Potter, a geophysicist for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The earthquake’s epicenter was in the western mountain regions near Sumapaz National Park, which mapping shows to be not densely populated. The 40-mile deep epicenter was 80 miles west-southwest of the capital. The earthquake was felt in many parts of the country.
Potter said that over roughly the past 30 years, 50 earthquakes of similar size have happened within 120 miles of Thursday’s quake.
“Looking at earthquakes that have happened even before that, before the 1970s or so, there have been many bigger earthquakes … Comparing to those very large earthquakes, the earthquakes today are a lot smaller and release a lot less energy,” she said.
As of 8 p.m., 223 individuals had reported feeling the earthquake to the USGS.
No aftershocks have been associated with this earthquake and no casualties or damage have so far been reported.
