A powerful earthquake rocked Colombia Aug. 10, causing injuries and significant damage to some areas.
The 7.4 magnitude earthquake occurred about 8:30 a.m. ET near San José del Palmar, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
At least 20 buildings collapsed in the Colombian city of Cali, with people trapped inside, Mayor Alejandro Eder said, according to Reuters.
The quake came just over a month after two powerful earthquakes hit Venezuela June 24, seconds apart, toppling buildings and trapping people.
➤ Map: See where recent earthquakes have been reported
As of 10 a.m. Aug. 10, no Florida residents reported feeling the Colombian quake.
That wasn't the case with the Venezuelan quakes in June, when several Florida residents reported feeling the quakes.
Earlier in June, one of the most powerful earthquakes — 6.1 magnitude — ever recorded in the Gulf of America occurred off Cuba on June 8, followed by a 4.9 magnitude quake a week later, on June 15.
Earthquakes do happen in or near Florida, but they're rare since the closest tectonic plate runs through the Caribbean Sea, just north of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic and south of Cuba toward Guatemala.
Here's what to know about what happened.
7.4 magnitude earthquake hits Colombia Aug. 10
According to the USGS, a 7.4 magnitude quake hit about 3 miles east of San José del Palmar, Colombia, about 12:34 p.m. UTC, which is 8:34 a.m. ET.
The quake occurred 66 miles deep in western Colombia.
➤ Rare 6.1 earthquake off Cuba among strongest ever reported in Gulf
The 7.4 magnitude quake was followed less than an hour later by a 5.0 quake about 10 miles west of San José del Palmar.
Has a tsunami warning been issued?
No tsunami threat is expected and no warnings have been issued, according to NOAA's U.S. Tsunami Warning System.
"Based on all available data, there is no tsunami threat because the earthquake is located too deep inside the Earth," the agency said.
What caused quake in Colombia?
The 7.4 magnitude quake in Colombia "occurred as the result of primarily strike-slip faulting at a depth of approximately 107 km," the USGS said.
"Earthquakes with focal depths between 70 and 300 km, like this event, are commonly termed 'intermediate-depth' earthquakes. Because of their depth, these earthquakes typically cause less intense shaking than shallower earthquakes of the same magnitude.
"However, the shaking can still be strong, and is typically felt over a broader region. Large, intermediate depth earthquakes are common along the entire length of the South America subduction zone."
Did anyone in Florida feel Colombia earthquakes?
The USGS reported more than 500 people said they felt the 7.4 magnitude quake, with most responses coming from Colombia. It was also felt in Mexico, Panama and Puerto Rico.
As of 10 a.m., no responses were filed with the USGS by anyone in Florida.
➤ Did you feel them? Share your experience with the U.S. Geological Survey here.
The earthquakes "occurred as a result of shallow strike-slip faulting near the complex plate boundary between the Caribbean and South American plates," the USGS said.
"Adoublet sequence — defined as two earthquakes of similar magnitude that occur close in time and proximity — likely indicates a complex, rupture-interaction process."
Interactive map: See location of recent earthquakes near me
USA TODAY Network-Florida offers a free earthquake database that is updated every 10 minutes.
Can't see the map? Open in a new browser.
What's the largest earthquake recorded in Florida?
According to the University of Florida, geologists agree the largest earthquake ever recorded in Florida happened on Jan. 12, 1879, about 11:45 p.m. It measured 4.4.
"A pair of 30-second tremors, possibly centered in the Palatka area, sent crockery tumbling off shelves and jolted startled residents awake in a large part of north Florida," according to the University of Florida.
➤ Was it an earthquake? Here's what happened off Florida coast
"According to news accounts, the quake was felt in Cedar Key, Gainesville, Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Tallahassee, among other cities."
Looking offshore, an even larger earthquake was felt in Florida after a 5.9 quake occurred under the Gulf of Mexico Sept. 10, 2006. It rocked Southwest Florida.
A 4.0 magnitude earthquake was reported about 106 miles east of Cape Canaveral on Feb. 7, 2024.
What do earthquake magnitudes mean?
Magnitude measures the strength of an earthquake.
Unlike hurricane categories, which max out at Category 5 no matter what maximum speeds are over 156 mph, there is no upper limit for earthquake magnitudes, according to Michigan Technological University.
Here is an explanation of earthquake magnitudes and the effects:
- Below 2.5: Usually not felt, but can be recorded by seismograph.
- Estimated number every year: millions
- 2.5 to 5.4: Often felt, but only causes minor damage.
- Estimated number every year: 500,000
- 5.5 to 6.0: Slight damage to buildings and other structures.
- Estimated number every year: 350
- 6.1 to 6.9: May cause a lot of damage in very populated areas.
- Estimated number every year: 100
- 7.0 to 7.9: Major earthquake. Serious damage.
- Estimated number every year: 10-15
- 8.0 or greater: Great earthquake. Can destroy communities near the epicenter.
- Estimated number every year: One every year or two
Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://palmbeachpost.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Was powerful Colombia earthquake felt in Florida?
