Colombia: Magnitude 6.3 Earthquake Shakes Bogota, 1 Dead
A powerful earthquake struck the Colombian capital, Bogota, on Thursday, causing sirens to sound and brief moments of panic. Tragically, a woman lost her life after jumping from a building. RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP via Getty Images

Colombia's capital city and other major urban areas were shaken by a powerful earthquake followed by strong aftershocks, prompting residents to flee onto the streets in panic, AP reports.

While the quakes caused minor damage, they left an indelible mark on the city's psyche.

The US Geological Survey reported that the initial earthquake had a preliminary 6.3 magnitude, with the subsequent aftershock registering a preliminary 5.7. Both tremors originated approximately 100 miles (160 kilometers) southeast of Bogota. Later in the evening, a Magnitude 5.0 earthquake added to the already tense situation.

The earthquake's impact was acutely felt in Bogota, a city inhabited by 11 million people. The tremors reverberated through buildings, causing floors to shake and alarms to blare. Frightened residents hurried out of their homes, gathering outside to seek safety.

"Everything was moving, and people came out screaming, 'It's shaking, it's shaking!' A lot of people started to rush out onto the street because of the tremor," Gonzalo Martin, a Bogota resident, recounted the scene.

Tragically, one person lost their life when they succumbed to panic and jumped from the seventh floor of a building. The incident underscored the intense fear that gripped the city during the seismic event.

Mayor Claudia Lopez expressed her condolences for the tragic loss of life while acknowledging the city's challenges during the quake.

The civil defense agency has evacuated Calvario, southeast of Bogota, where windows sustained damage due to the quakes.

A segment of the intricate stonework ceiling within the circular hall of Colombia's House of Representatives in Bogota recently dislodged and descended onto the lawmakers' seating area.

This incident was captured in a video shared via an official congressional social media account on X, formerly referred to as Twitter.

The chamber was vacant during the incident, so no individuals were harmed.

The earthquake's impact was also felt in other major cities such as Medellín and Cali.

Colombia Earthquake's Strong Aftershocks

Following the initial quake, aftershocks continued to rattle the city. Colombia's national geological service assessed the second quake at a magnitude of 5.6, with a subsequent aftershock measuring 4.8, according to Reuters.

Reports surfaced of a landslide in Villavicencio, while El Calvario experienced damage limited to the windows of homes and businesses.

US Ambassador Francisco Palmieri was delivering a speech at a Bogota hotel when the earthquake struck, momentarily halting his speech to inquire if what had been felt was indeed an earthquake.

President Gustavo Petro was also in attendance, and the hotel remained unevacuated. Meanwhile, inside the congress building, a piece of the ceiling detached but fortunately caused no injuries.

Colombia Earthquake

Colombia's susceptibility to earthquakes is linked to its geological makeup. Central Colombia is known for its high seismic activity and is characterized by one of its major geological faults.

The memory of a previous quake in 2008, measuring 5.5 in magnitude and centered in El Calvario that killed 11 people, remains a sad reminder of the country's vulnerability to such natural events, NDTV noted.

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Strong earthquake hits Colombia - From Associated Press