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Chocó seismic swarm triggers multiple earthquakes in Colombia
A seismic swarm has been recorded in the Chocó department of Colombia, specifically centered around the municipality of Istmina. On September 14, 2026, the Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC) reported a rapid succession of tremors. A notable sequence occurred within a ten-minute window between 3:02 p.m. and 3:08 p.m., featuring earthquakes with magnitudes of 4.9, 4.1, and 4.4.
Throughout the day, multiple other tremors were recorded in the Istmina and Sipí areas, including a 4.9 magnitude event at 4:13 p.m. Freddy Tovar, coordinator of the National Seismological Network, identified the activity as a seismic swarm, noting that such phenomena can persist for days or weeks without a single defining mainshock.
The tremors were felt across western Colombia, including Cali, Pereira, and Manizales. In Cali, the activity prompted preventive evacuations of several buildings, including commercial premises and administrative centers. As of the latest reports, no casualties or significant structural damages have been confirmed from this specific sequence. This activity follows a major 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck San José del Palmar on August 10, 2026, which resulted in 331 deaths and triggered hundreds of aftershocks.
Entities
Cali · Chocó · Freddy Tovar · Istmina · Servicio Geológico Colombiano · Sipí · Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 18 SOURCES] A third earthquake of magnitude 4.4 occurred at 3:08 p.m. diarioavancetabasco.com · diariodelnorte.net · infoenn.com · mioriente.com · notimercio.ec · +12 more
- [DISPUTED] A seismic swarm occurred in Istmina, Chocó, on September 14, 2026. diarioavancetabasco.com · diariodelnorte.net · infoenn.com · mioriente.com · notimercio.ec · +14 more
- [● 18 SOURCES] A second earthquake of magnitude 4.1 occurred at 3:04 p.m. diarioavancetabasco.com · diariodelnorte.net · infoenn.com · mioriente.com · notimercio.ec · +12 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] The seismic activity is part of a swarm in the Chocó region. notimercio.ec · diariodelcauca.com.co · extra.com.co · elperiodicodeportivo.com.co
- [● 18 SOURCES] The first earthquake in the sequence had a magnitude of 4.9 at 3:02 p.m. local time. diarioavancetabasco.com · diariodelnorte.net · infoenn.com · mioriente.com · notimercio.ec · +12 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] A magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurred in San José del Palmar on August 10, 2026. diarioavancetabasco.com · infoenn.com · lanoticiasv.com · contrapunto.com · notimercio.ec · +4 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] A fourth earthquake of magnitude 4.9 occurred at 4:13 p.m. mioriente.com · notimercio.ec · elnorte.com.co · radio580.com.ni
- [● 6 SOURCES] Preventive evacuations were carried out in Cali, including the Santiago de Cali University. mioriente.com · notimercio.ec · www.elnuevodia.com.co · www.cablenoticias.com · diariodelcauca.com.co · +1 more