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, located about 90 kilometers east of Bogotá. The quake originated at a shallow depth of 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, with Santa Cecilia reporting structural damage to nearly 90% of its buildings. More than 100 homes collapsed, and key highways suffered major disruptions due to structural failures and landslides.
At least 31 people were injured, most of them in rural communities near the epicenter. In Bogotá, a city of eight million residents, the quake triggered moderate tremors that led to minor damage to more than 150 buildings.
This was one of the strongest earthquakes to hit Colombia since the 2016 magnitude 6.5 event, which resulted in significant loss of life.
In response, Colombia’s disaster management agencies have been fully activated, and the Engineering Research Institute (EERI) is currently 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.