Minute30.com .- On the morning of this Sunday, December 21, 2025, the inhabitants of several departments of Colombia were surprised by a strong earthquake. According to Updated Bulletin 1 of the Colombian Geological Service (SGC), the seismic event was recorded at 09:05 local time, raising the alert in a large part of the national territory.

The earthquake had a magnitude of 4.4 and was located with an epicenter near Neiva, Huila. One of the determining factors for the movement to be perceived with intensity in urban areas was its superficial depth of 34 kilometers, which made it easy for the seismic wave to be clearly felt in tall structures and homes.

“He shook objects”: Reports from Ibagué and other cities

Minutes after the earthquake, thousands of citizens took to social networks to report the intensity of the earthquake. In Ibagué, the capital of Tolima, reports indicate that, although the tremor was short (lasting approximately 1 or 2 seconds), the sensation was strong enough to generate alarm.

“It felt light but enough to shake objects; the closet doors rang, the lamps moved and even the Christmas tree was able to swing,” said one of our followers in the capital of Tolima.

The seismic wave was not limited to the epicenter. El Minuto30 has been able to confirm that the tremor was felt in a wide area of ​​the country that includes:

Coffee Axis: Armenia, Circasia (Quindío) and Dosquebradas (Risaralda).

Cauca Valley: Cali.

Tolima: Chaparral and Ibagué.

Cundinamarca: Bogotá.

Huila: Neiva and surrounding municipalities.

Damage assessment and recommendations

Until the time of this publication, the Risk Management authorities in the departments of Huila and Tolima have not reported fatalities, injuries or serious structural damage. However, relief agencies are carrying out preventive sweeps in the areas closest to the epicenter to rule out damage to rural homes or road infrastructure.

In this holiday season, where many families are traveling or meeting in public spaces, it is essential to remember safety measures:

Stay calm: In events of moderate magnitude, panic can cause more accidents than the earthquake itself.

Identify safe areas: If you are in a building, stay away from windows or mirrors.

Do not use elevators: In case of aftershocks, always use the stairs.

Secure decorative objects: As citizens reported, elements such as Christmas trees and lights can easily fall.

A year-end with seismic activity

Colombia, being located in an area of ​​high geological complexity (Pacific Ring of Fire), is a country where these events occur frequently. The Colombian Geological Service continues to monitor the area for possible replicas of smaller magnitude.

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