7.4 quake hits Colombia-Ecuador border, no major damage

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, shaking the South American nation and neighboring Ecuador and prompting people to evacuate homes and buildings.

The quake struck near the Pacific coast, about 40 miles southwest of the city of Tado, at a depth of around 30 miles. It was felt as far away as Bogotá, Colombia’s capital, and Quito, Ecuador’s capital, more than 300 miles apart. No immediate reports of major damage or casualties emerged, but authorities warned of possible landslides in mountainous areas near the epicenter.

Colombia sits on the boundary of the Nazca and South American tectonic plates, making it one of the most seismically active countries in the world. The region experiences frequent tremors, but a quake of this magnitude is less common. The last comparable event was a 7.2-magnitude quake in 2016, which killed over 300 people in Colombia’s southern province of Putumayo. Ecuador, also located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, is similarly prone to strong quakes, including a devastating 7.8-magnitude temblor in 2016 that killed 676 people.

Emergency teams are assessing the situation, with power outages reported in some areas. Authorities urged caution as aftershocks could follow. The quake’s timing, during daylight hours, likely helped prevent panic and injuries. Still, the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters means even moderate tremors can escalate quickly. Geologists will now study the quake’s impact on fault lines, while governments review evacuation plans and infrastructure resilience.