Powerful Earthquake Shakes Bogotá, Triggers Panic but No Major Injuries Reported
A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.3 struck central Colombia on Sunday morning, jolting the capital city of Bogotá and prompting widespread evacuations.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake’s epicenter was near the town of Paratebueno, located approximately 170 kilometers (105 miles) east of Bogotá. Colombia’s Geological Service reported a slightly stronger reading, measuring the tremor at magnitude 6.5.
The quake caused buildings to shake across Bogotá, sending residents fleeing into the streets. AFP journalists on the ground described scenes of alarm as sirens rang out and people gathered outdoors, many still in their pyjamas. Parents comforted terrified children while others searched for missing pets that had bolted during the quake.
An elderly woman, descending several flights of stairs, described the shaking as “very strong.”
Bogotá Mayor Carlos Galán posted on X (formerly Twitter) that, according to early assessments, there were no reported injuries. “At this time, one person is being treated for an anxiety attack and is being transferred to the Central Hospital,” Galán said.
He added that only minor structural damage had been reported, along with brief power outages that have since been resolved.
Central Colombia is a known seismic hotspot. A similarly powerful quake struck the region in 1999, measuring 6.2 in magnitude and resulting in the deaths of nearly 1,200 people.
