The earthquake of magnitude 7.4 registered this Monday, August 10, in the west of Colombia has generated an immediate question due to the proximity of the epicenter to the Pacific: is there a risk of tsunami? For now, the authorities' answer is no.
The U.S. tsunami warning system has indicated that there is no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, according to Reuters. In Colombia, national media also report that the alert was dismissed after the initial checks carried out following the earthquake.
The movement reached a revised magnitude of 7.4 and had its epicenter near San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó, in western Colombia. The earthquake was widely felt in the country and caused damage in various cities, but so far no tsunami alert has been issued for the Pacific coast of Colombia.
Why a strong earthquake does not always cause a tsunami
The magnitude of the earthquake alone is not enough to generate a tsunami. These phenomena are usually linked to underwater earthquakes capable of causing a significant and sudden displacement of the seabed, which in turn moves a large column of water.
In this case, the epicenter was located on land, in the vicinity of San José del Palmar, and the specialized authorities have not detected conditions that justify activating a tsunami threat. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System ruled out risk after analyzing the event.
Therefore, although the earthquake was very powerful and occurred in a region close to the Pacific, not all major earthquakes in the area trigger dangerous waves.
What Colombian authorities have said
The first information disseminated in Colombia also indicates that the tsunami alert has been dismissed. Noticias RCN reports that, despite Chocó having a coast on the Pacific and damage assessment continuing, there is no active warning for this phenomenon.
The priority of emergency agencies is now on assessing the damage directly caused by the earthquake and its aftershocks. In Chocó, Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba has reported injuries and severe damage to buildings in Quibdó, while inspections continue in other affected areas.
The situation may be updated
Although at this moment there is no tsunami threat, any change should only be followed through official agencies. Assessments after a major earthquake are updated as new data about the epicenter, depth, aftershocks, and ocean behavior arrive.
For this reason, authorities recommend consulting the notices from the Colombian Geological Service, the General Maritime Directorate (Dimar), the UNGRD, and the official tsunami alert systems, and avoiding unverified messages spread on social media.
The information available so far is clear: the 7.4 magnitude earthquake has caused significant damage in Colombia, but has not generated a tsunami alert for the country's coast.