“Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster Mitigation
Research in Colombia”
International Symposium on Earthquake and Tsunami DisasterMitigation in Latin America

Tokyo ‐ March 7, 2014

CONTENTS
1

Earthquakes and seismic hazard

2Tsunami2

Velocity determined with SIRGAS‐CON GPS permanent stations, which in Colombia is
operated and processed by the Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi (IGAC).
SIR11P01 in ITFR08, 2005.0 epoch

3

ADVANCES IN COLOMBIA1984

National Technical Committee for Tsunami
Warning

2004

Formulation of the National Plan for Tsunami
Risk Management

2007

Establishment of the National System for
Warning and Detection Tsunami

2011

Review of the Nacional Plan for Tsunami Risk
Management

Tsunami Warning Focal Point (TWFP): Now OSSO /soon DIMAR
Tsunami National Contact (TNC): Colombian Ocean Commission

4Seismicity from global networks(1900 ‐ 2013)

The size of the circles is proportional tothe elastic energy released by the quake.
The red circles represent earthquakes ofshallow depth, yellow and green
intermediate event, and blue
deep earthquakes

5

MAJOR EARTHQUAKESIn the Southern segment ofsubduction zone, the 1906 and1979 earthquakes (Mw ≥ 8,0)
were generated, which caused
the tsunamis which affected
mainly the town of Tumaco,located in the Pacific coast ofNariño

6Location of the earthquake of January 31, 1906
(Mw = 8.8), and global stations that recorded

The 1906 earthquake, with magnitude Mw = 8.8 and shallow depth, was located in the Pacific Ocean
off the northern coast of Ecuador. According to observations of witnesses, produced several waves
with heights between 2 and 5 m and hit the coast between Bajo Baudo (Chocó) in the North, and7
Esmeraldas (Ecuador) to the south.

Earthquake December 12, 1979

El Charco ‐ Nariño (Fotografía Diario El Tiempo)

Hotel Americano – Tumaco (Fotografía Diario El Tiempo)

Avenida La Playa – Tumaco (Fotografía Diario El Tiempo)

Tumaco (Fotografía Diario El Tiempo)

Earthquake of December 12, 1979 (Mw = 8.2) near the Colombian
Pacific coast in front of Tumaco. Immediately after the earthquake atsunami swept inland.
Deaths: 672 people
Affected People: 1,011 people
Destroyed Houses: 3,081 houses
Affected houses: 2,119 houses
Cost of Damages: US$28 million (0.06 percent of the GDP).

9TSUNAMI IN COLOMBIAGrave amenaza en tierra (2 ‐ 5 m)
Amenaza en tierra (< 2 m)

The Pacific region is exposed to high seismic hazard
associated with the Pacific subduction zone, theseismic source with the ability to release the greatest
amounts of energy in the country.
The Caribbean region, is much less exposed because it
does not have the capability of generating
earthquakes as large as those that can be generated in
the Pacific10Tsunami 1979

San Juan de la Costa (OSSO, 1979)

Tumaco, (Occidente, 1979)(Pararas‐Carayannis, 1979)

PORTS AND CITIESEXPOSED TO TSUNAMI IN
COLOMBIA

 1,300 km of longitude in thePacific coast is exposed totsunami hazard.
 A million people in highlevel of exposure to tsunami:
Buenaventura (500,000inhabitants) and Tumaco(200,000 inhabitants)
 Two major ports:
Buenaventura and Tumaco
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KNOWLEDGE ANDWARNING

Colombian Geological Survey
National Seismic Network
In 2013 we have 38 broadband
seismic stations, 13 short period
seismic stations and 26
accelerographic stations withreal time transmission

13General Maritime Directorate

Tsunami Warning Center Bogota

Mareographic stations, 2013

NEAR‐SOURCE TSUNAMISNATIONAL PLAN FORTSUNAMI RISK MANAGEMENT
OrigenCercanoLocal Source

Colombian
INGEOMINAS
Geological Survey
General Maritime
Direction

DIMAR (TWFP)
AlarmaWarning
Personal
National Unit for Disaster
DGR
Risk Management
RegionalCREPAD´S
Committees for
Disaster Risk Management
Local Committees
for
CLOPAD´S
Disaster Risk Management

COMUNIDADESCommunities
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FAR‐SOURCE TSUNAMISNATIONAL PLAN FORTSUNAMI RISK MANAGEMENT
Origen Lejano
Distant‐Source

FuentesInternational
TsunamiInternacionales
Warning
Centercomponente sísmico

FuentesInternational
TsunamiInternacionales
Warning
Centercomponente sísmico

ColombianSCG
Geological
INGE OMINAS
Survey (SCG)
DIMAR(TWFP)
GeneralMaritimeDirection

DGR
National
Unit for Disaster Risk Management

Regional Committees
CREPAD´Sfor DRM

CLOPAD´S
Local Committees
for DRM

1617

Marta CalvacheTechnical Director Geohazards
mcalvache@sgc.gov.co

Thanks!

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