Powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake shakes central Colombia
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Powerful 6.3 magnitude quake shakes central Colombia, damaging buildings
Powerful 6.3 magnitude quake shakes central Colombia, damaging buildings. Buildings swayed, sirens blared and panicked Colombians raced onto the streets. The quake struck at 8.08am about 170 kilometres east of the capital Bogota. No reports of serious injuries, but authorities were investigating minor damage in several other villages. 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. A 6.2 magnitude quake there in 1999 claimed nearly 1,200 lives.
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The United States Geological Survey said the quake struck at a depth of nine kilometres. (Photo: AFP)
PARATEBUENO, Colombia – Buildings swayed, sirens blared and panicked Colombians raced onto the streets Sunday after a shallow 6.3 magnitude earthquake rattled the centre of the country.
The quake struck at 8.08am about 170 kilometres east of the capital Bogota and was felt across much of the country.
In the town of Paratebueno, not far from the epicenter, AFP reporters saw several partially collapsed buildings, including a whitewashed church with one wall seriously damaged.
Nearby residents picked through the debris of several collapsed zinc-roofed structures.
There were no reports of serious injuries, but authorities were investigating minor damage in several other villages.
In Bogota — a city nestled in the high Andes and home to 8 million people — the lengthy jolt prompted sirens to go off and sparked widespread alarm.
Tall buildings visibly moved from side to side, creaking and groaning for almost a minute, while furniture and fittings shook violently.
Thousands of Bogotanos raced downstairs and out of buildings still wearing their pajamas and sought refuge in parks and other open spaces.
Parents tried to calm terrified children, couples hugged and others looked for pets that had run away.
Many were afraid to go back inside as several aftershocks were detected.
“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.
The United States Geological Survey said the quake struck at a depth of nine kilometres near Paratebueno.
The impact was felt as far away as Medellin and Cali — close to the Pacific coast.
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 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.
M6.3 earthquake shakes Colombia’s capital Bogota
The USGS reported on Sunday morning that the quake struck near the city of Paratebueno in central Colombia. The Colombian Geological Service, however, reported that the magnitude of the shock was higher, registering a 6.5 on the Richter scale. The Mayor of Bogota, Carlos Galan, wrote on X that no one was injured in the earthquake, according to preliminary reports.
The Colombian Geological Service, however, reported that the magnitude of the shock was higher, registering a 6.5 on the Richter scale.
The Mayor of Bogota, Carlos Galan, wrote on X that no one was injured in the earthquake, according to preliminary reports.
“At this time, one person is being treated for an anxiety attack and is being transferred to the Central Hospital. So far, minor structural damage and some power outages have been reported, but service has already been restored,” Galan added.
Central Colombia, a zone of high seismic activity, has experienced a similar earthquake before, which was recorded as a 6.2 magnitude quake in 1999, claiming nearly 1,200 lives.
❗️🇨🇴 – 6.3-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Colombia
On June 8, 2025, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia at 8:08 a.m. local time, approximately 72 miles east of Bogotá, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake caused light shaking, with potential effects felt beyond… pic.twitter.com/LTXd01daA8 — 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) June 8, 2025
Earlier it was reported that more than 3,700 died, and nearly 5,100 got injured in twin earthquakes in Myanmar.
Powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake shakes central Colombia
The shallow quake struck at 8:08 a.m. at a depth of 6.2 miles about 10.5 miles from the city of Paratebueno. Residents said they felt the tremor in cities including Medellin, Cali and Manizales. The Colombian Geological Service reported additional tremors with magnitudes ranging from 4 to 4.6 that occurred in the same area minutes later.
The shallow quake struck at 8:08 a.m. at a depth of 6.2 miles about 10.5 miles from the city of Paratebueno, which is about 116 miles southeast of the capital of Bogota. Residents said they felt the tremor in cities including Medellin, Cali and Manizales.
People remain on the street after an earthquake in Bogota on June 8, 2025. RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP via Getty Images
The Colombian Geological Service reported additional tremors with magnitudes ranging from 4 to 4.6 that occurred in the same area minutes later.
The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management said on X that it was assessing the situation in several municipalities.
Images posted on social media showed people in Bogota who felt the tremor — some left their workplaces to seek safety. Footage from rural areas indicated there was no damage.
“It was a big scare,” 54-year-old Carlos Alberto Ruiz, who left his Bogota apartment with his wife, son and dog, told AFP.
People remain on the street after an earthquake in Bogota on June 8, 2025. RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP via Getty Images
“It’s been a while since we felt it this strong here in Bogota,” said Francisco Gonzalez, a lawyer who also fled his home.
Colombia lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
Colombia emerges unscathed following powerful 6.3-magnitude quake
The quake hit near Paratebueno just after 8 a.m. local time at a shallow depth of around 10 kilometers, or 6.2 miles. Aftershocks, registering 4 to 4.6 on the Richter scale, were felt a few minutes later. The quake was also felt in Medellín, Cali and Manizales. A similarly strong earthquake hit central Colombia in 1999, killing 1,200 people.
The quake hit near Paratebueno just after 8 a.m. local time at a shallow depth of around 10 kilometers, or 6.2 miles. Aftershocks, registering 4 to 4.6 on the Richter scale, were felt a few minutes later.
According to local media, residents evacuated their homes, some taking refuge in streets and parks while still in their pajamas or having just begun their workday, after sirens blared across the city. The quake was also felt in Medellín, Cali and Manizales.
In a post on X, Bogota Mayor Carlos Galan said preliminary reports indicate there were no injuries from the quake. Galan added that there are some reports of people being trapped in elevators and apartment buildings, while one person was brought to Central Hospital after suffering an anxiety attack.
“So far, some damage, mostly minor, to facades and structures has been reported. Several transformers were also damaged, and there were some power outages, but service has already been restored in much of the city,” Galan concluded.
Meanwhile, the official X account for the City of Bogota said that all city-run activities have been suspended for the day, including its cultural and recreational spaces. “Due to today’s earthquake and possible aftershocks, we will be conducting structural checks on the buildings,” the city wrote.
“It’s been a while since we felt it this strong here in Bogota,” resident Francisco Gonzalez said. A similarly strong earthquake hit central Colombia in 1999, killing 1,200 people.
Colombia lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly active tectonic strip of Earth that stretches from Japan and Southeast Asia through South America.