A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck central Colombia at 10:47 AM local time, with the epicenter near Villavicencio, about 80 km from Bogotá. The tremor lasted nearly 45 seconds and was felt in Medellín and Cali.
In downtown Bogotá, a multi-story red-brick apartment building partially collapsed, “leaning precariously onto a neighboring structure.” Emergency services confirmed multiple deaths and dozens injured, with more people feared trapped.
An image from the scene shows debris scattered on the street below the damaged tower. “Balconies have collapsed, air conditioning units hang dangerously from cracked walls, and steel reinforcements are visibly snapped.”
Rescue crews and firefighters are working amid the dust, using heavy machinery in a race to find survivors.
Authorities continue search-and-rescue efforts as the country reels from the disaster.
