Magnitude 5.6 Earthquake Strikes Chaparral, Colombia

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Colombia early Monday morning, November 3, 2026, waking millions of citizens. The Colombian Geological Service reported that the tremor occurred at 4:13 a.m. and had a shallow depth of less than 30 kilometers.

The epicenter was located in Chaparral, Tolima, with Rocesvalles and San Antonio being the closest municipalities. Despite the epicenter's location, the tremor was strongly felt in Bogota, Ibague, Medellin, and Cali, where thousands of citizens evacuated their homes.

“The safety of our children, girls and young people comes first.”

Authorities have not reported significant structural damage or human casualties as of yet. A subsequent aftershock was recorded at 4:16 a.m. with a reported magnitude of 3.3.

The region has experienced intense seismic activity in recent weeks. Since September 20, the Colombian Geological Service has documented numerous low and moderate magnitude events in Chaparral, including more than 1,100 earthquakes above magnitude 2.0 between September 20 and 30.

In response to the tremor, official educational institutions in Ibague will temporarily hold virtual classes while school building inspections are carried out. Tolima Governor Jorge Emilio Rey recommended the measure, and Mayor Johanna Aranda announced it via X, stating that student safety comes first.

Governor Rey also ruled out serious damage in Cundinamarca following the earthquake. The Colombian Geological Service continues to monitor the activity using seismic stations and citizen reports to analyze the evolution of the sequence.