A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 struck central Colombia and its capital, Bogotá, on Sunday, June 8, 2025. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake’s epicenter was located near the city of Paratebueno, approximately 170 kilometers east of Bogotá. The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) reported the magnitude as 6.5, with the epicenter at a depth of 10 kilometers.
The earthquake caused buildings to shake and sirens to sound around Bogotá, prompting people to rush into the streets for safety. Residents gathered in parks and outside buildings, with some in their pajamas, as parents attempted to calm frightened children and others searched for pets that had run away during the tremor. An elderly woman described the shake as “very strong” as she made her way down several flights of steps.
Bogotá’s Mayor, Carlos Galan, reported no injuries from the earthquake, according to preliminary reports. However, one person was being treated for an anxiety attack and was transferred to the Central Hospital. Minor structural damage and some power outages were reported, but service had already been restored.
This region of Colombia is known for high seismic activity. A similar earthquake occurred in 1999, measuring 6.2 magnitude and claiming nearly 1,200 lives. A 5.9 magnitude aftershock hit Bogotá shortly after the initial quake, according to the USGS.
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake isn’t reported to have recently rocked Colombia’s capital. However, on August 17, 2023, a 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck central Colombia, affecting several departments including Bogotá. The quake’s epicenter was in El Calvario, Meta department, southeast of Bogotá, and was felt strongly in the capital with a Modified Mercalli intensity of V. This earthquake resulted in 2 deaths and 50 injuries, with at least 20 houses collapsing and 252 others damaged across the country.