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Colombia faces earthquake and Puracé volcanic activity
Colombia is facing a dual natural event following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake on August 10, 2026. The seismic activity, centered near San José del Palmar in Chocó, has triggered over 60 aftershocks across several departments, including Antioquia, Caldas, and Valle del Cauca.
Simultaneously, the Puracé volcano in the Cauca department has exhibited increased activity, emitting ash and gases up to 700 meters above its summit. While social media reports suggested the earthquake triggered the eruption, the Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC) clarified that the two events are geologically independent. The volcano has been under an orange alert since August 1 due to rising sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide levels.
The combined events have caused significant disruption. The Guillermo León Valencia Airport in Popayán was closed due to ash, and seven other airports faced operational suspensions. In Cauca, authorities have declared a humanitarian emergency and a hospital red alert to manage critical occupancy levels in emergency and intensive care units. The Procuraduría General de la Nación has also called for the immediate activation of emergency plans by various ministries and local governments to ensure essential services and infrastructure protection.
Entities
Cauca · Colombia · Colombian Geological Service · Popayán · Procuraduría General de la Nación · Puracé volcano · Servicio Geológico Colombiano
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The earthquake and the volcanic activity of Puracé are not related. 98fmnews.com.br · master.com.ar · www.newtral.es · www.metropoles.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Ash and gas emissions from Puracé volcano reached up to 700 meters above the summit. 98fmnews.com.br · www.metropoles.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Procuraduría urged the activation of emergency plans across several ministries and local governments in Cauca. www.diariodelsur.com.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Cauca Department declared a humanitarian emergency and hospital red alert due to high occupancy and earthquake impacts. proclamadelpacifico.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Puracé volcano has been under an orange alert for eruption risk since August 1. 98fmnews.com.br · www.lanacion.com.co · master.com.ar
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Guillermo León Valencia Airport in Popayán was closed due to volcanic ash. 98fmnews.com.br · master.com.ar · www.metropoles.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] More than 60 aftershocks have been recorded following the main earthquake. abriendobrecha.tv
- [● 4 SOURCES] A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on August 10, 2026. 98fmnews.com.br · abriendobrecha.tv · confirmado.net · www.newtral.es