A Small Earthquake Hit Western Colombia Days Before a Deadly Major One

A moderate earthquake shook Cumbal, Nariño, on August 7, 2026, according to Colombia's SGC. Three days later, a far stronger earthquake killed at least 111 people and collapsed 61 buildings. Scientists must study whether the first quake — a smaller shaking of the ground — warned of the bigger one, but the two events were strikingly close in time and place.