Earthquake in Colombia

On Sunday, June 8, 2025, at approximately 8:08 a.m. local time, a powerful magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck near the town of Paratebueno, Colombia, about 90 kilometers east of Bogotá. The quake originated at a shallow depth of approximately 9 to 10 kilometers and was followed by several strong aftershocks, some exceeding magnitude 4.

The earthquake caused widespread damage across multiple towns in the region. Paratebueno, Medina, and Santa Cecilia were among the hardest hit. In Santa Cecilia, nearly 90% of buildings sustained structural damage. More than 100 homes collapsed, and key highways were severely disrupted by structural failures and landslides.

At least 31 people were injured, most of them in rural communities near the epicenter. In Bogotá, home to about eight million residents, moderate tremors were felt across the city, causing minor damage to more than 150 buildings.

The quake was one of the strongest to hit Colombia since the 2016 magnitude 6.5 earthquake, which resulted in significant loss of life.

In response, Colombia’s disaster management agencies were fully activated, and the Engineering Research Institute (EERI) began assessing the extent of the damage.

Colombia is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a geologically active zone known for frequent seismic and volcanic activity.