Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake Near San José del Palmar, Colombia; SAC Cable Stable
What Happened
On August 10, 2026, at 15:34:28 local time, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurred. The epicenter was located 5 km south of San José del Palmar, Colombia. This event became a significant seismic phenomenon in the region known for its tectonic activity.
The earthquake caused localized ground tremors, but preliminary data suggest that surface damage was limited. The area around the epicenter houses key elements of submarine cable infrastructure, making such events particularly important for monitoring.
Cables in Zone
Within a 500 km radius from the epicenter, the South American Crossing (SAC) submarine cable runs. This cable, brought into operation in 2000 and with a total length of 20,000 km, is owned by Cirion Technologies and Sparkle and connects South America to North America, the Caribbean region, and Europe.
The closest point of the SAC cable to the epicenter is in Buenaventura, Colombia, at a distance of 147.5 km. Buenaventura serves as an important node for international internet traffic, providing connections between continents. The geographical proximity of the cable to the epicenter makes its stability particularly significant in the context of such events.
What our measurements show
The RTT (round-trip time) monitoring on segments of the SAC cable in the region shows stable values. The average baseline RTT for Buenaventura and nearby nodes remains at 45-50 ms, which corresponds to normal operating conditions.
No significant deviations in cable operation parameters have been recorded since the earthquake. This indicates that the SAC infrastructure has withstood seismic impact and continues to operate in a normal mode. The cable's stability confirms its reliability under natural disasters.
Context and risks
Underwater cables like SAC are key elements of the global telecommunications network. Their damage can lead to significant disruptions in internet traffic, especially in regions with limited terrestrial infrastructure.
Earthquakes in the region of the Pacific Ring of Fire represent a constant risk for cable systems. However, the resilience of SAC in this case underscores the importance of the engineering solutions adopted during its installation. Regular monitoring of such events allows for timely assessment of infrastructure condition and prevention of potential consequences.
Further Monitoring
We will continue to monitor the parameters of the SAC cable operation, including RTT, packet loss, and connection stability. Special attention will be paid to segments near Buenaventura, considering their geographical proximity to the epicenter.
In addition, we will analyze data on possible aftershocks that may affect the cable infrastructure in the region. Any changes in the cable operation will be recorded and analyzed for assessing their impact on global internet traffic.
