5.9 earthquake startles residents of Medellin, Colombia

Bogota, Sept 14: A shallow, 5.9 magnitude earthquake rattled residents of Colombia's second-largest city of Medellin in the country's biggest tremor in over a year.

Colombia's natural disaster office said there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The US Geological Survey said the quake struck shortly before 9 pm local time near the western town of Mutata. The tremor had a depth of 4 kilometers and was felt as far away as the capital, Bogota.

While the quake startled people relaxing at home it barely registered among soccer fans attending a match in Medellin between Atletico Nacional and Bolivar from Bolivia.

Colombia is a seismically active country with a large potential for damage owing to its mountainous terrain and location along the Pacific Ocean ring of fire.

PTI