Bogota, Colombia: A 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit the city

A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Bogota, the capital of Colombia, along with numerous aftershocks, as reported by the United States Geological Survey. The Colombian agency said that the quake hit at 12:04pm (17:04 GMT), with its epicentre in the town of El Calvario, 40km (25 miles) southeast of Bogota and at a depth of less than 30km.

The event caused fearful residents to rush into the streets, leading to a tragic incident where a woman fell to her death. The incident was deeply regretted, and medical teams were dispatched to support those who were with her at that time. Furthermore, there were no immediate reports of significant damage.

Colombia's Congress experienced some damage to the chamber of representatives, with a decorative plaster piece falling from the ceiling onto a desk; fortunately, no injuries were reported. The civil defence agency evacuated residents from the entire El Calvario municipality, where windows were shattered due to the earthquakes. In a nearby area called Villavicencio, a landslide occurred, prompting the agency to assess potential further impacts.

After the initial earthquake, subsequent aftershocks followed, causing crowded streets in the city. The second quake, estimated at a magnitude of 5.6, was succeeded by a 4.8 magnitude aftershock, according to Colombia's national geological service.

Central Colombia is known for its seismic activity and features one of the country's main geological faults. Earlier in March, authorities had issued warnings about heightened seismic activity around the Nevado del Ruiz volcano, a peak responsible for triggering Colombia's most devastating natural disaster on record, which resulted in the loss of 25,000 lives in 1985.