Colombia Rocked by 6.3 Magnitude Quake, No Immediate Reports Of Injuries

A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 struck central Colombia early Sunday, causing buildings to shake and prompting alarmed residents in the capital city of Bogota to rush into the streets. The tremor was reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which stated that the epicenter was located 17 kilometers northeast of Paratebueno, approximately 170 kilometers (about 105 miles) east of Bogota.

The quake occurred at 8:08 a.m. local time (1308 GMT) and had a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, intensifying the tremors felt across the region. The Colombian Geological Service confirmed that a series of aftershocks, with magnitudes ranging between 4.0 and 4.6, followed in the same area just minutes after the initial quake.

So far, there have been no reports of injuries or fatalities. The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) announced on platform X that it is currently evaluating the impact across several municipalities.

Social media was flooded with images and videos showing people evacuating buildings and assembling in open spaces after feeling the tremors. In some clips, alarms can be heard blaring as workers leave offices and homes in Bogota. Initial footage from rural areas near the epicenter, however, suggests that no structural damage occurred.

Colombia is located within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone that regularly experiences earthquakes and volcanic activity. The earthquake serves as a stark reminder of the country's vulnerability to natural disasters, though emergency protocols appear to have been quickly activated following the incident.