Yesterday there Colombia was hit by a violent earthquake magnitude 7.4 which, at the moment, has already caused 132 victims, 570 injured and thousands missing. Images of destroyed buildings, collapsing roofs and devastated cities are circulating online. Among the most affected population centers are Cali, Manizales, Pereira and Quibdó, where dozens of buildings collapsed, including hospitals and key infrastructure.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located near San José del Palmarin the Chocó department, with a hypocenter at a depth of approximately 107km. The event lasted 4 long minuteswas felt above all in the west and in the center of the country, causing buildings to shake as far as the capital Bogota. The power of the earthquake was such that it surpassed national borders and was also distinctly felt in Ecuador and Panama. Precisely in these hours you have asked us many questions about it. This earthquake is linked to that of Venezuela? And is it true that when it is warmer earthquakes are stronger? In both cases the answer is no, but let’s take a closer look at them one by one.
Because the strong 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia is not linked to Venezuela
Many wondered if there was a connection with the earthquakes that hit Venezuela two months ago, in June 2026, causing over 6,300 victims. The answer is No. First reason: distance. The faults involved in Venezuela are located at hundreds of kilometers from the system that caused the earthquake in Colombia, and the seismic waves attenuate too quickly to “wake up” faults so far away. Second reason: I am systems tectonics completely different. They are, in practice, two different physical mechanisms acting on two different fault systems: there is no domino effect at these distances.
Are there more earthquakes in the summer?
Many think that there are more earthquakes in summer because it is hotter. Obviously this is fake news. First of all because this earthquake was generated a long time ago 100 km below the surface. The sun’s heat warms the ground for a few meters. Already a a few hundred meters deep the temperature is isolated from the external climate and depends only on the planet’s internal geothermal heat. The heat of August therefore has no effect on rocks that are tens or hundreds of kilometers beneath our feet.
And then we must always take into account the forces at play. Earthquakes arise from the movement of plaques tectonics,and in the face of these planetary forces, air temperature or atmospheric pressure weighs, literally, zero.
