A 6.3-magnitude earthquake has devastated central Colombia, causing a residential building to partially collapse in Bogotá and leaving multiple people dead and dozens injured.

The earthquake struck at 10:47 AM local time with its epicenter near Villavicencio, approximately 80 kilometers southeast of the capital. The ground shook for nearly 45 seconds and was felt across multiple cities including Medellín and Cali.

What Happened

A multi-story apartment building in downtown Bogotá sustained catastrophic structural failure, leaning onto an adjacent structure. Balconies collapsed, air conditioning units became dislodged from cracked walls, and steel reinforcements snapped under the seismic stress.

Emergency services confirmed multiple fatalities and dozens of injuries, with rescue teams continuing operations to locate residents believed trapped beneath the rubble. Firefighters and rescue personnel coordinated search efforts using heavy machinery as dust and debris covered the affected area.

Response and Ongoing Operations

First responders mobilized emergency vehicles and specialized equipment to the collapse site immediately following the tremor. Rescue teams worked through difficult conditions to access survivors and assess the full extent of damage across the region.

Authorities have not yet released a final casualty count as search-and-rescue operations remain ongoing at multiple locations. The earthquake caused visible structural damage to numerous buildings across the affected cities.

This story has been updated. CNN’s Emergency Response Team contributed to this report.