The 2004 M7.2 Earthquake Near Pizarro, Colombia

On 15 November 2004 at 09:06 local time, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck 32 km south-southwest of Pizarro in Colombia’s Chocó department. The event originated at a depth of 15 km. This earthquake represents the strongest seismic event recorded in the immediate region since 2000.

Pizarro lies along Colombia’s Pacific coastal plain, where the Nazca Plate subducts beneath the South American Plate. This convergent margin produces frequent moderate-to-large earthquakes and ongoing crustal deformation. The subduction interface in this sector is characterized by relatively shallow seismicity, consistent with the 15 km focal depth of the 2004 event. The surrounding geology includes accreted oceanic terranes, fore-arc sedimentary basins, and active thrust faults that accommodate part of the plate convergence.

Colombia’s Pacific margin has a well-documented history of large earthquakes. Notable events include the great 1906 Ecuador–Colombia earthquake (M 8.8) and several M 7+ shocks in the 20th century. These events demonstrate that the subduction zone can generate both interface and intraslab earthquakes capable of producing strong ground shaking along the coast. The 2004 Pizarro earthquake fits within this pattern of recurrent seismic activity driven by plate-boundary processes.

No other earthquake exceeding magnitude 7.0 has been recorded within 100 km of Pizarro since 2000, underscoring the relative infrequency of great events yet confirming the persistent seismic hazard. The shallow depth of the 2004 shock likely contributed to locally felt intensities, although detailed damage reports remain limited.

Ongoing monitoring by national and international networks continues to track microseismicity and slow-slip events along this segment of the subduction zone. Such data refine hazard assessments for coastal communities in Chocó and inform building-code updates aimed at mitigating future impacts.

References

USGS Earthquake Catalog (event parameters)
Servicio Geológico Colombiano seismic bulletins
Global CMT catalog for moment-tensor solutions