Aftershocks are reported in the Potrerillos area south-east of the Chiles volcano and about 18 km from the town of Tulcan. | Photo: @henrytelesur

Quito, July 25 (RHC)-- Ecuadorian authorities reported on Monday an earthquake of magnitude 5.2 in the northern province of Carchi, which also affected several departments in southern Colombia with no serious damage or loss of life reported.

The Geophysical Institute of the National Polytechnic School (IG) of Ecuador reported that the main telluric movement was located 16.3 kilometers from San Gabriel with a depth of 4.56 kilometers.

At the same time, about eight aftershocks were reported in the area of Potrerillos to the south-east of the Chiles volcano and about 18 km from the town of Tulcan, which were registered from 08H00 (local time).

The Integrated Security Service ECU911 reported that 16 houses and 2 poles were affected in the town of Tulcan, 16 houses in Montufar, as well as 6 houses and two injured people in Espejo.

Colonial and patrimonial houses presented severe damages with cracks in walls and destroyed roofs where rescue forces have intervened to avoid human losses.

For their part, Colombian authorities report that the earthquake was highly perceptible in the departments of Nariño, Cauca and Putumayo, mainly in the municipalities of Pasto, Túquerres, Santiago, Ricaurte, Guachuca, Aldana, Ipiales and Contadores.

Likewise, the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) issued "follow-up and monitoring" indications in the areas where the effects of the telluric event were felt.