Major earthquake and strong aftershock hits Colombia
5511 Min Read
A large earthquake was reported in the South American country of Colombia Tuesday afternoon, shaking buildings in the capital, Bogota.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the 6.0 magnitude quake struck at 2:03 p.m. EST. It struck at a depth of 6.2 miles. Sixteen minutes later, a 5.8 aftershock was measured nearby, the USGS also said.
The quakes were very close to each other and only minutes apart. The epicenters were located about 150 km (93 miles) south of the capital Bogota in the central province of Meta, and were very shallow, which would have amplified their effects.
A quake of magnitude 6.2 is considered strong and is capable of causing severe damage however the area is not densely populated.
The U.S. Geological Survey put the magnitudes at 6.0 and 5.8.
The tremors were felt in several cities in the center and southwest of the country, including Bogota.
UPDATE – The region of the epicentres is home to agriculture and oil activities, but the country’s disaster management agency said on its Twitter account it had not yet received any reports of damage. A spokesperson for state-run oil company Ecopetrol, which has much of its infrastructure in the country’s eastern plains, said all installations were operating normally. Earthquakes are relatively frequent in Colombia.
