The Colombian Geological Service recorded a 3.1-magnitude earthquake in the early hours of August 18 with its epicentre in Istmina, Chocó, at a depth of less than 30 kilometres. The tremor occurred at 03:42.
Seismic movements were recorded in other parts of the region. A 4-magnitude earthquake was felt in the coastal state of La Guaira in Venezuela, according to information provided by the country's acting president Delcy Rodríguez on Telegram, with no "impacts of any kind" reported immediately. A 5.8-magnitude tremor was recorded in Chiapas, Mexico, 156 kilometres south-east of Ciudad Hidalgo, reported the National Seismological Service, with no casualties or serious material damage reported. A 4.7-magnitude earthquake was also recorded in Gójar, Granada, Spain, followed by four aftershocks.
During an address on Monday August 17, Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella began with a minute of silence for the victims of the earthquake. The president expressed his condolences to the affected families and stated that "there is no word capable of fully alleviating the void left by a father, a mother, a son, a spouse, a wife, a brother or a friend".
De la Espriella called for search operations to continue in Cali and Pereira, the two cities most affected by the earthquake. The president stated: "I have given the order from the first minute after the devastating event that as long as there is a possibility of finding even one fellow countryman alive, the search and rescue teams will remain in the field".
