00:00We know that tons of information have been published in recent days
00:03about the earthquake that shook much of Colombia on the morning of Monday, August 10.
00:08However, a lot of misinformation and fake news continues to slip through on social media.
00:13So stay tuned to this video where we explain the key points you need to know.
00:18Are we talking about a tremor, earthquake, or seismic event?
00:21We've seen a lot of news reports where they mention all three terms.
00:24Which one is the most suitable?
00:26The truth is that there is no difference between these words.
00:29They are synonyms and none are related to the magnitude, depth, or effects of the movement.
00:36So all three terms are correct.
00:38Another question we've been asked is
00:40Why did the Colombian Geological Survey publish different bulletins with varying magnitudes?
00:46Were there several earthquakes?
00:48The answer is no.
00:49Only one earthquake occurred, which was of magnitude 7.4.
00:53But keep in mind that when an event of this type occurs
00:57It is completely normal for the entity to be constantly publishing preliminary data.
01:03to notify other entities such as the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, for example.
01:09As the SGC team reviews the data or as the monitoring stations record significant changes
01:15New, updated bulletins are published.
01:18In the case of the earthquake of August 10, the latest bulletin revealed the final figure, a magnitude of
01:247.4.
01:25And at this point a word appears that you may not have heard much these days.
01:30Replicas.
01:31Aftershocks are seismic movements of lesser magnitude that follow an earthquake and occur in the same region.
01:38They can last for days, weeks, and even months because energy continues to be released.
01:42until the areas surrounding where the main earthquake originated are balanced again.
01:47According to the SGC, after the earthquake of August 10,
01:51At least 96 aftershocks have been recorded with magnitudes between 1.4 and 4.8
01:56and at depths less than 100 kilometers.
01:59They are normal.
02:00And no, they cannot be predicted.
02:02It's all just talk.
02:03And the fact is, to date, there is no scientifically proven method
02:08that allows us to predict the occurrence of an earthquake in a given place, much less its magnitude.
02:14So don't fall for fake news and don't be fooled.
02:18It is key to remember here that Colombia is a seismically active country
02:22in which the interaction between the Nazca, South American and Caribbean tectonic plates
02:26It causes earthquakes to occur in most parts of the country.
02:29For your information, it is estimated that approximately 2,500 homicides occur each month in Colombia.
02:35earthquakes.
02:36Most of us don't even notice them.
02:39They are only detected by seismographs.
02:41Therefore, it is also not true that there is a greater occurrence of earthquakes now than before.
02:46Only now we are more aware of its occurrence
02:49And, of course, we have more resources and tools to detect them.
02:53Another common question revolves around the duration of the earthquake.
02:57Some people reported feeling it for several minutes.
03:01When we talk about time, there is no single answer.
03:04We could be talking about three different things.
03:07There is the time when it is recorded by the SGC instruments
03:10To monitor the seismic activity of the entity, seismometers are used.
03:14that are capable of recording ground movements that humans cannot perceive.
03:19Therefore, while you may feel an earthquake for a few seconds,
03:24The stations can record their waves for several minutes.
03:28There is also the time it takes for people to feel the earthquake
03:32and the time that the movement of the fault that originates it lasts.
03:35So, how long do we actually feel an earthquake?
03:39This can vary from person to person.
03:42and depends on factors such as the distance to the hypocenter,
03:44That is, to the place inside the Earth where the rupture begins,
03:49the characteristics of the terrain or the building in which the person is located.
03:54And finally, don't believe the hype.
03:56This tremor has nothing to do with the activity and orange alert of the Puracé volcano
04:00nor with climate change.
04:02And no, the Earth isn't telling us about environmental problems either.
04:06So if you want to stay informed about the August 10th earthquake,
04:10the aftershocks that followed
04:11and understand what it meant to live in a seismically active country,
04:17You can read all the news we have published on this subject.
04:19in the Science section of El Espectador.
04:21And if you don't want to miss this important information,
04:24Don't forget to follow us on all our social media channels.
04:30Thank you!
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