Powerful 6.3 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Central Colombia, Shaking Bogotá and Surrounding Regions
A strong earthquake rattled central Colombia on Sunday, causing structural damage and prompting emergency responses across multiple cities, with the capital Bogotá experiencing notable shaking.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported a magnitude 6.3 quake striking at approximately 8:08 a.m. local time (13:08 UTC), with a shallow depth of around 10 km. The epicenter was located near Paratebueno in Cundinamarca department, roughly 100-120 km (about 60-75 miles) east-southeast of Bogotá—not directly near Villavicencio as initially described in some accounts.
The tremor was felt strongly in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, and other areas, lasting around 30-45 seconds in some reports and triggering building evacuations, power outages, and panic in the capital.
While initial user accounts described a dramatic partial collapse of a multi-story red-brick apartment building in downtown Bogotá with fatalities and trapped residents, verified reports indicate more limited impacts in the capital: minor structural damage to over 100 buildings, people briefly trapped in elevators, and one reported panic-related medical incident. Heavier damage occurred closer to the epicenter in towns like Paratebueno, Medina, and areas near Villavicencio, including collapsed water tanks, damaged shopping centers, and disrupted highways. Authorities have reported dozens of injuries overall but no widespread confirmation of multiple fatalities at this stage.
Rescue teams, firefighters, and heavy machinery remain active in affected zones as aftershocks continue. Colombia’s seismic service and local officials are assessing full damages, with residents urged to report issues and stay vigilant.
Central Colombia sits in a seismically active zone; a similar 6.2 quake in 1999 caused significant loss of life, serving as a reminder of the region’s vulnerability.
