How many tsunamis have been recorded in Colombia?

On Tuesday, July 29, at 6:24 p.m. Colombian time, an 8.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Kamchatka region in eastern Russia. Hours later, specialized agencies warned of a tsunami.

Because of this, countries bordering the Pacific Ocean are on alert. Colombia is one of them, specifically the area encompassing the departments of Nariño, Valle del Cauca, Chocó, and Cauca.

According to UNGRD, strong waves are expected to be felt around 10:30 a.m. in the aforementioned areas, with Malpelo (Valle) being the first to be hit. Predictions suggest it will hit at 10:03 a.m.

If you want to understand what these types of natural disasters are like in Colombia, there are two ancient events that can give you an idea. The General Maritime Directorate published an article mentioning disasters that have resulted in human and material losses, one in 1906 and the other in 1979.

On January 31, 1906, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake generated a tsunami in the Pacific that affected the coast from Bahía Solano in Colombia to Esmeraldas in Ecuador. The death toll at that time exceeded 600.

The other event occurred 73 years later, on December 12, 1979, to be exact . The magnitude was lower than that recorded in the early 1900s. At that time, the earthquake measured 8.1 and hit the coasts of Cauca and Nariño, with Tumaco being the hardest hit.

"It left more than 450 fatalities, 1,000 injured, 3,000 homes destroyed, some 2,000 affected, and the disappearance of El Guano Island in Tumaco," Dimar added.

If you're wondering about the Colombian Caribbean region, know that no tsunamis have directly affected its coasts. However, this doesn't mean they're free of risk.

DIGITAL REACH EDITORIAL