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Why Does the Earth Keep Shaking in Chaparral, Tolima?

By Richard Emblin - November 3, 2026

An unusual seismic swarm in the central lowlands of Colombia has produced more than 1,400 recorded earthquakes since September. A magnitude 5.6 tremor on Tuesday morning, felt as far away as Bogotá, has renewed questions about the geological forces beneath Tolima. BOGOTÁ — It was a sudden wake-up call for Bogotá when, at 4:13 a.m. […]

De La Espriella announces recovery for Tolima as fires destroy 50,000 hectares

By The City Paper Staff - August 31, 2026

President Abelardo De La Espriella announced a sweeping recovery program for Colombia’s fire-ravaged Tolima department on Sunday, saying more than 50,000 hectares had been affected by wildfires and warning that investigators had found indications that many of the blazes were deliberately started. The announcement came during a nationally televised address from Bogotá in which De […]

UNGRD Decision Not to Request Foreign Rescuers Sparks Controversy

By The City Paper Staff - August 14, 2026

Amidst the rubble and destruction caused by Monday’s devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake across much as Central and Southwest Colombia, reports are surfacing that the leftist government of ex-President Gustavo Petro initially decided that the country did not need specialized international search-and-rescue teams. According to a letter signed by Javier Pava, the former head of the National […]

Colombia Quake Toll Rises to 181 as Rescue Crews Search for Survivors Under Rubble

By The City Paper Staff - August 11, 2026

The death toll from Colombia’s powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake rose to 181 on Tuesday, with over 1300 injured and estimated 200 missing as rescue crews continued searching collapsed buildings across the country’s western and central regions. Authorities warned that the death toll is likely to rise as emergency teams work through the rubble of damaged and […]

Guardian of the quake: Kit Miyamoto’s quest for urban resilience

By Richard Emblin - August 24, 2023

In the seismic shadow of history’s catastrophic tremors, Kit Miyamoto’s mission stands firm: fortifying cities worldwide against the impending earthquake era.

How developing nations can help rethink earthquake resiliency

By The Mark News - May 7, 2017

Western know-how can help developing nations withstand and recover from earthquakes. But to be most effective, there has to be an understanding about the facts on the ground.