Recent Earthquakes in Colombia: Magnitude, Epicenters, and SGC Reports

The Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC), Colombia’s geological survey, recorded a series of seismic events between July 15 and July 17, 2026, including a magnitude 4.4 earthquake on July 15 and a subsequent tremor on July 17. These events were felt in several major cities, including Bucaramanga and Bogotá, according to reports from El Tiempo, Noticias Caracol, and El Comercio Perú.

The seismic activity began on the afternoon of July 15, 2026, when a magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck. According to El Tiempo, the tremor was notably felt in Bucaramanga, a city in northeastern Colombia. The SGC provided the specific epicenter and depth data for this event to monitor potential aftershocks and structural impacts in the region.

Activity continued into the following days. Reports from Pulzo indicate that another tremor shook Colombia in the early hours of Saturday, July 16, 2026, affecting several important cities. This was followed by another seismic event on the afternoon of Friday, July 17, 2026, which was reported by Noticias Caracol and El Comercio Perú.

The sequence of tremors extended into Sunday, July 18, 2026, coinciding with a public holiday bridge (puente festivo). Revista Semana reported that the SGC continued to track seismic movements on this date, providing updates on the magnitude and epicenter of the latest sismo.

SGC Monitoring and Regional Impact

The Servicio Geológico Colombiano is the primary authority responsible for monitoring seismic activity in the country. For the events occurring between July 15 and July 18, the SGC served as the verified source for epicenter locations and magnitude readings. These readings allow local authorities to determine if the tremors were shallow or deep, which typically dictates the level of perceived shaking in urban centers like Bogotá.

While the magnitude 4.4 event on July 15 was specifically highlighted as being felt in Bucaramanga, the broader pattern of tremors throughout the weekend of July 17 and 18 indicates a period of heightened seismic activity across multiple departments. Local media outlets, including Noticias Caracol, used social media and direct reporting to confirm that residents in various cities felt the vibrations during the July 17 event.

The frequency of these reports—appearing across El Comercio Perú, El Tiempo, and Revista Semana—shows a consistent pattern of tremors occurring over a four-day window. This cluster of activity is typical for Colombia’s geography, as the country sits on the intersection of several tectonic plates, including the Nazca and South American plates.

Residents are encouraged to follow the official SGC channels for real-time updates on seismic activity and safety protocols during tremors. The agency maintains a public record of the last sismo, including the exact coordinates of the epicenter and the depth of the quake, to inform the public and emergency responders.