Colombian Earthquakes

Towards the South and up to 350 kilometres, causing further damage earthquakes have occurred. Bogota has been partially destroyed or damaged not only by distant origin earthquakes but also by movements originated in the vicinity (ANDRE: 1884). In relation to the inherent to disaster prevention and environmental management activities, it is inevitable to conclude that in Bogota have not existed coherent inter-agency organizations to carry out these activities. On the other hand, presents a dispersion of entities that from different sectors and at different levels have been exercising one or several functions of management or control of factors of risk and environmental deterioration. The geologico-geofisico model of the urban perimeter of Bogota and its surroundings ((is conformed by two sub-basins: 1) the Western, located towards the Northwest, 2) the East, located inside the urban perimeter and branched in its northern part by the hills of Suba, giving rise to two secondary sub-basins, one the the western part of the hills of Suba and another between these and the eastern hills (BERMUDEZ: 1942). Scientifically in Bogota three major seismogenic sources are clearly defined: 1-.

It corresponds to the subduction zone of the Pacific coast, which is significant only for some parts of the subsoil of the city response characteristics. 2 Corresponds to the front source of the Cordillera Oriental, which is dominant in the case of the city. 3 Corresponds to local sources even though the seismic threat for Bogota does not correspond to extreme values in the country, the risk is because of the high degree of vulnerability of its buildings, which until a few years ago were built without taking into account the criteria of sismo-resistencia. The designed buildings and built before 1984 are highly vulnerable; This has been proved during the occurrence of low intensity earthquakes registered in other regions of the country (BALTA: 1926). The main reason is that prior to the implementation of the Colombian code of Sismo-resistencia, there were no clear requirements on earthquake-resistant materials, design, and techniques. The incorporation of the concepts of development and socio-economic and physical planning, as well as the active participation of the communities, is still weak in most district agencies responsible for disaster prevention.