Mud volcano erupted in Colombia one day after the earthquake

Published at: 11/08/2026 06:52 PM

An unusual and surprising eruption of a mud volcano shook the rural area of the municipality of San Pedro de Urabá, in the department of Antioquia, this Tuesday, the Minuto 60 website reported.

The natural phenomenon occurred specifically in the village of Molinillo, in a land of great historical importance that in the past housed the old house of the Castaño brothers.

The emergency immediately set off the alarms of relief agencies, government authorities and the entire community of the Urabá subregion, who observe with amazement the magnitude of the event.

In a shocking way, this natural phenomenon began to overflow exactly 24 hours after the devastating earthquake that shook much of the Colombian territory last Monday.

Geology experts are now evaluating whether the earthquake cracked underground layers, releasing accumulated gases under great pressure.

The destabilization of the subsoil caused a dense, heavy and fiery muddy mass to descend with enormous force down the slopes of the land, destroying the vegetation layer and flooding everything in its path in an uncontrollable and violent way.

In preliminary information provided by the community, the phenomenon caused the loss of animals in the sector, although so far the authorities have confirmed the absence of human victims and affected homes.

In the north of Urabá, these formations occur due to the geological conditions of the area. Research from the University of Antioquia details that this Antioquia subregion houses multiple structures of this type due to the activity of tectonic plates and the abundant presence of sediments and underground gases.

The National Unit for Risk Management (UNGRD) specifies that the Urabá region contains 19 of the 62 registered sludge in Colombia. The entity clarifies that these formations represent a lower risk compared to traditional volcanoes such as El Ruiz, since they do not expel lava or ash, although their activity includes the violent expulsion of gases, water and mud.

Local authorities strongly recommended not to approach the point of activity and to report in a timely manner on any changes in the terrain.

In the same way, they insisted on the prohibition of entering affected areas, even if the phenomenon seems to have ceased, because soil instability requires rigorous inspection by technical personnel.