Earthquake kills at least six in Colombia
Pastor Dale Morgan
Earthquake kills at least six in Colombia*
* Story Highlights
* At least 10 wounded when earthquake hits Bogota on Saturday
* Quake struck at depth of 6 miles and lasted about 40 seconds
* Emergency crews report that church outside Bogota suffered serious
damage
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) -- A moderate earthquake shook the Colombian
capital Saturday afternoon, killing at least six people and injuring
more than 10.
The quake, with a preliminary measurement of magnitude 5.6, shook
buildings and sent residents running into the streets.
Colombian Interior Minister Carlos Holguin confirmed that six people
were killed by falling rocks and earth on a highway between Bogota and
Villavicencio.
The quake started about 2:20 p.m. local time (19:20 GMT) and was
centered about 30 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of the capital, the
U.S. Geological Survey said.
It struck at a depth of just 6 miles (10 kilometers) and lasted about 40
seconds. Shallower earthquakes are felt more strongly than those that
occur deep in the earth.
A number of smaller aftershocks were felt over the next hour.
Many people fled buildings, fearing that they could collapse, and
anxiously waited on the streets of Bogota. Phone systems were down
briefly, and calls to officials went unanswered.
President Alvaro Uribe ordered officials to assess the damage quickly
"to learn how to help the community."
Emergency crews reported that a church in Puenquetame, about 20 miles
(35 kilometers) southeast of Bogota, suffered serious structural damage,
according to Luza Amanda Pulido, director of the president's disaster
office. Some homes were also damaged.