Magnitude 5.6 earthquake in Tolima felt across Colombia

A shallow earthquake struck near Chaparral in Colombia's Tolima department at 4:13 a.m. local time on Tuesday, with the Colombian Geological Survey putting its preliminary magnitude at 5.6, shaking felt in Bogotá, Cali and Medellín, and no major damage reported so far.

Why it matters: The quake was shallow, at less than 30 kilometres deep in the survey's preliminary bulletin, which is why it was felt across several large cities and sent residents out of their homes before dawn; damage assessments near the epicentre in Tolima are the next thing to watch.

Data as of Colombian Geological Survey (Servicio Geológico Colombiano) preliminary automatic bulletin for the November 3, 2026 earthquake (4:13 a.m. local time, magnitude 5.6, epicentre near Chaparral, Tolima, depth under 30 kilometres), as reported by RPP Noticias, in Spanish, and by Mogaz, each read in this run; the survey states its preliminary figures may be revised. Other agencies differ: the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre put the quake at magnitude 5.5 at 35 kilometres depth near Tulua, after an earlier 5.8 estimate, per Reuters. No major structural damage or casualties had been reported at the time of writing. Developing item.

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck near Chaparral, Tolima, at 4:13 a.m. local time on Tuesday, the Colombian Geological Survey said in a preliminary bulletin, at a depth of less than 30 kilometres. The shaking was felt in Bogotá, Ibagué, Medellín and Cali, thousands of residents left their homes in several cities, and a magnitude 3.3 tremor followed at 4:16 a.m. Authorities had not reported major structural damage or casualties.

Agency readings differ while the figures settle: the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre put the quake at magnitude 5.5, at 35 kilometres depth about 77 kilometres from Tulua, after first estimating 5.8, Reuters reported. The survey’s closest municipalities to the epicentre were Rocesvalles and San Antonio in Tolima.

Magnitude 5.6 earthquake in Tolima felt across Colombia

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