Significant M5.5 Earthquake struck on Wednesday Night near Bucaramanga in Colombia.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on December 10th, 2025. Last updated January 8th, 2026.

Deep in the night of Wednesday December 10th, 2025, a significant MAG-5.5 earthquake hit under land 41 kilometer from Bucaramanga in Colombia. Shaking may have been felt by a total of 8 million people. Venezuela is also near its epicenter.

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Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Colombia, 41 kilometer (25 mi) south-southeast of Bucaramanga in Santander. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 165 km.

Date and Time:	Dec 10, 2025 03:27AM (Bogota Time) - Dec 10, 2025 08:27 Universal Time.
Location:	41 km SSE of Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia. Coordinates 6°46'4"N 73°1'49"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.5 Detected by 35 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.052 .
Depth:	165 km (102 mi) An intermediate depth.
Max. Intensity:	IV Light On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Tsunami very unlikely Tsunami's are usually caused by MAG-6.5+ earthquakes, less than 100km shallow, and with an epicenter under sea. Neither of this seems to be the case. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 8 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 8 million people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is IV, which corresponds with light shaking and likely no damage. Roughly 571,700 people are expected to be exposed to this level. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 7.2 million). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected.

People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Colombia , around 6.6 million people, with impact levels up to IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Roughly 1.7 million people were exposed to shaking in Venezuela .

Nearby towns and cities

2 countries can be found within 300km of the epicenter of this earthquake: Colombia and Venezuela .

Piedecuesta in Santander, Colombia is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 25 kilometer (16 mi) south of Piedecuesta. The intensity of shaking and damage in Piedecuesta is estimated to be around level III on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (weak shaking, probably no damage).

Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Bogotá is located 267 km to the south-southwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Bucaramanga is located 41 km to the north-northwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Floridablanca is located 33 km to the north and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage).

An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below. If places don't have intensity data available, it likely means the experienced impact in those places was fairly small.

Overview of nearby places

Earthquake Intensity Map

The graph below overlays a map of the region around the epicenter with earthquake intensity data provided by the US Geographic Survey. The highest intensity level detected for this earthquake is IV.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Shaking reported by 105 people in 2 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 105 people have reported shaking in 31 places in 2 countries (Colombia, Venezuela).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

• Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia: 41 people.
• La Calera, Cundinamarca, Colombia: 16 people.
• Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia: 4 people.
• Cajicá, Cundinamarca, Colombia: 4 people.
• Manizales, Caldas, Colombia: 3 people.
• Chía, Cundinamarca, Colombia: 3 people.
• Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia: 3 people.
• Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia: 2 people.
• Envigado, Antioquia, Colombia: 2 people.
• Funza, Cundinamarca, Colombia: 2 people.

Risk of aftershocks?

We have not yet detected any foreshocks or aftershocks (MAG-2.5 or higher) within 100km (62 mi) of this earthquake.

Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.

It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.

Earthquakes like this are common in the region

Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since June 8th, 2025, when a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit 254 km (158 mi) further south. That was also the heaviest earthquake to hit the region in the past 10 years.

In total, 5 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.5 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 2 years.

Tsunami very unlikely

It is very unlikely that this eartquake will cause any tsunami's. The reported magnitude is lower than the MAG-6.5 strength required to cause any earthquakes. In addition, this earthquake was not very shallow and appears to have occurred under land. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Sources

Last updated 08/01/26 00:38 (). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.

1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us6000rtuk
2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20251210_0000129
3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
4. Google Maps: Static API
5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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