Update : Although we mentioned earlier that this earthquake was not linked to volcanic activity, the Carchi authorities have now confirmed that the earthquake was volcanically triggered.

Important update : INGEOMINAS has raised the alert level of the Chiles – Cerro Negrp volcanoes from yellow to orange at these long-dormant, twin volcanoes as seismicity has surged (over 1500 events!) over the past 24 hours (including a magnitude M5.6 earthquake).

Update : One house was apparently damaged in the capital of Carchi province, Tulcan. No more reports about the fear for a missing person in the landslide. Let’s hope that this was a false alert.

Update : Picture below shows a landslide due to this earthquake (image courtesy Army Ecuador). The governor of the Crachi province in Ecuador may decide to suspend the classes in some schools.

Update : No reports of damage so far, only an Ecuadorian official report of 1 person missing after a landslide in Cerro Negro.

Update : IGEPN (Ecuador) mentions a Magnitude (Richter) of M5.9 at a depth of 6 km only. Although no direct volcanic link was reported, the epicenter was located in the direct vicinity of the border Colombian volcanoes Cumbal and Chiles.

3km (2mi) WSW of San Gabriel, Ecuador
34km (21mi) SW of Ipiales, Colombia
39km (24mi) NE of Ibarra, Ecuador
49km (30mi) NE of Atuntaqui, Ecuador
117km (73mi) NE of Quito, Ecuador