Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake in Colombia Felt Across Several Ecuadorian Provinces

A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake jolted a significant portion of Colombia on Monday, originating from San José del Palmar in the Chocó department, located on the Pacific coast. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 82 kilometers, according to the Colombian Geological Service.

The seismic event, which took place at 07:34 local time, was felt strongly in several Ecuadorian provinces. In the capital city of Quito, the tremors were particularly noticeable in taller buildings. Residents in various areas of the Andean province of Imbabura, adjacent to the Colombian border, also reported feeling the strong shaking and evacuated their homes as a precautionary measure.

The Institute of Geophysics of the National Polytechnic School received reports of the earthquake being felt in the tropical provinces of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas and Los Ríos, as well as the coastal provinces of Esmeraldas, Guayas, and Manabí. Ecuador was concluding a three-day holiday weekend when the earthquake occurred.

The National Secretariat for Risk Management in Ecuador stated that it is conducting monitoring and perception sweeps across the country. As of the latest reports, there have been no official announcements of casualties or material damage resulting from the earthquake in Ecuador.