What is the "Ring of Fire"? Countries in the zone of highest seismic activity

A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake shook Colombia on Monday morning, originating near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department on the Pacific coast. The tremor occurred at 7:34 a.m. local time, according to the Colombian Geological Service (SGC).

The SGC explained that the earthquake's origin is tied to a subduction process between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates. Subduction occurs when one tectonic plate slowly slides beneath another as they converge.

This event has prompted questions, particularly in Mexico, about seismic activity in the region. The "Ring of Fire," also known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, is a vast horseshoe-shaped zone stretching approximately 40,000 kilometers around the Pacific Ocean. It is characterized by extensive tectonic plate boundaries and subduction zones.

This highly active seismic and volcanic region traces the edges of numerous tectonic plates, including the Pacific, Juan de Fuca, Cocos, Indo-Australian, Nazca, North American, and Philippine plates. According to National Geographic, an estimated 90% of all earthquakes worldwide occur within this zone. The Ring of Fire also hosts about 75% of the world's active volcanoes, with over 450 volcanic structures.