BOGOTÁ — A 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook Bogotá early Sunday, sending residents fleeing into the streets as buildings swayed and sirens blared. The quake, centered near Paratebueno about 170km east of the capital, caused minor damage in nearby villages, including cracked buildings and possible road damage.

Though Bogotá, home to 8 million people, reported no major injuries or structural damage, the shallow quake at a depth of 9km triggered widespread panic and several aftershocks. Emergency crews have been deployed across the city to assess the situation.

The tremor was felt as far as Medellín and Cali. Colombia, located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", remains prone to seismic activity.