A major 6.3-magnitude earthquake lasting several seconds shook the Colombian capital of Bogota early Sunday, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The shallow quake struck near the city of Paratebueno in central Colombia, some 170 kilometers east of Bogota, the USGS said.

No casualties were immediately reported in the tremor, also felt in cities including Medellin, Cali and Manizales.

The quake, which the Colombian national geological survey registered at magnitude 6.5, was one of the strongest and longest felt in the capital in recent years.

In Bogota buildings shook, sirens blared and people rushed out into the streets.

Scores of residents gathered in parks and outside buildings in their pajamas, with parents trying to calm frightened children and others looking for pets that had run away.

Many were afraid to go back inside.

Bogota’s security department said on X that emergency workers were conducting a sweep of the city to look for damage and provide assistance.

Bogota’s mayor, Carlos Fernando Galan, said all disaster agencies had been activated.

Central Colombia is in a zone of high seismic activity. A 6.2 magnitude quake there in 1999, not far from Ansermanuevo, claimed nearly 1,200 lives.

The country is on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an arc of intense seismic activity where tectonic plates collide that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin to South America.

The shallow quake struck at 9.08am local time some 170km east of Bogota, Colombia, said the USGS. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM USGS

People waiting on the street in Bogota after an earthquake struck nearby on June 8. PHOTO: AFP

BOGOTA – A major 6.3-magnitude earthquake lasting several seconds shook the Colombian capital of Bogota early on June 8 , according to AFP reporters on the ground and the United States Geological Survey.

The shallow quake struck near the city of Paratebueno in central Colombia, some 170km east of Bogota, the USGS said.

No casualties were immediately reported in the tremor, also felt in cities including Medellin, Cali and Manizales.

The quake, which the Colombian national geological survey registered at magnitude 6.5, was one of the strongest and longest felt in the capital in recent years.

In Bogota buildings shook, sirens blared and people rushed out into the streets.

Scores of residents gathered in parks and outside buildings in their pajamas, with parents trying to calm frightened children and others looking for pets that had run away.

Many were afraid to go back inside.

“It was a big scare,” said 54-year-old Carlos Alberto Ruiz, who left his apartment with his wife, son and dog.

“It’s been a while since we felt it this strong here in Bogota,” said Mr Francisco Gonzalez, a lawyer who also fled his home.

“This was very strong,” said one elderly lady trying to make her way down several flights of steps.

Bogota’s security department said on X that emergency workers were conducting a sweep of the city to look for damage and provide assistance.

Bogota’s mayor, Carlos Fernando Galan, said all disaster agencies had been activated.

Central Colombia is in a zone of high seismic activity. A 6.2 magnitude quake there in 1999, not far from Ansermanuevo, claimed nearly 1,200 lives.

The country is on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an arc of intense seismic activity where tectonic plates collide that stretches from Japan through South-east Asia and across the Pacific basin to South America. AFP

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Powerful 6.3 magnitude quake shakes Bogota

Buildings shook, sirens blared around the capital and people rushed out into the streets. Photo: AFP

A powerful, shallow 6.3-magnitude earthquake shook the Colombian capital of Bogota early on Sunday, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The shallow quake struck near the city of Paratebueno in central Colombia, some 170 kilometres east of Bogota, the USGS said.

Buildings shook, sirens blared around the capital and people rushed out into the streets, while social media users posted videos of swinging lights and furniture.

Scores of people gathered in parks and outside buildings in their pajamas, with parents trying to calm frightened kids and others looking for pets that had run away.

“This was very strong,” said an elderly lady in Bogota trying to make her way down several flights of steps.

Bogota’s security department said on X that emergency workers were conducting a sweep of the city to look for damage and provide assistance.

Central Colombia is in a zone of high seismic activity. A 6.2 magnitude quake there in 1999, not far from Ansermanuevo, claimed nearly 1,200 lives. (AFP)

Residents of the Pasadena neighborhood remain on the street after an earthquake in Bogota on June 8, 2025 sent people rushing out of their homes (Pablo VERA) (Pablo VERA/AFP/AFP)

A major 6.3-magnitude earthquake lasting several seconds shook the Colombian capital of Bogota early Sunday, according to AFP reporters on the ground and the United States Geological Survey.

The shallow quake struck near the city of Paratebueno in central Colombia, some 170 kilometers (105 miles) east of Bogota, the USGS said.

No casualties were immediately reported in the tremor, also felt in cities including Medellin, Cali and Manizales.

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The quake, which the Colombian national geological survey registered at magnitude 6.5, was one of the strongest and longest felt in the capital in recent years.

In Bogota buildings shook, sirens blared and people rushed out into the streets.

Scores of residents gathered in parks and outside buildings in their pajamas, with parents trying to calm frightened children and others looking for pets that had run away.

Many were afraid to go back inside.

“It was a big scare,” said 54-year-old Carlos Alberto Ruiz, who left his apartment with his wife, son and dog.

“It’s been a while since we felt it this strong here in Bogota,” said Francisco Gonzalez, a lawyer who also fled his home.

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“This was very strong,” said one elderly lady trying to make her way down several flights of steps.

Bogota’s security department said on X that emergency workers were conducting a sweep of the city to look for damage and provide assistance.

Bogota’s mayor, Carlos Fernando Galan, said all disaster agencies had been activated.

Central Colombia is in a zone of high seismic activity. A 6.2 magnitude quake there in 1999, not far from Ansermanuevo, claimed nearly 1,200 lives.

The country is on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an arc of intense seismic activity where tectonic plates collide that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin to South America.

bur/st/md/mlm

BOGOTA – A powerful, shallow 6.3-magnitude earthquake shook the Colombian capital of Bogota early Sunday, according to AFP reporters on the ground and the United States Geological Survey.

The shallow quake struck near the city of Paratebueno in central Colombia, some 170 kilometers east of Bogota, the USGS said.

No casualties were immediately reported in the tremor, also felt in cities including Medellin, Cali and Manizales.

In Bogota, buildings shook, sirens blared and people rushed out into the streets, while social media users posted videos of swinging lights and furniture, though the images could not be immediately verified by AFP.

Scores of people gathered in parks and outside buildings in their pajamas, with parents trying to calm frightened children and others looking for pets that had run away.

Many were afraid to go back inside.

“It was a big scare,” said 54-year-old Carlos Alberto Ruiz, who left his apartment with his wife, son and dog.

“It’s been a while since we felt it this strong here in Bogota,” said Francisco Gonzalez, a lawyer who also fled his home.

“This was very strong,” said one elderly lady trying to make her way down several flights of steps.