By SPA,
Bogota : A moderate earthquake shook the Colombian capital Saturday afternoon, knocking over furniture in buildings and sending residents running into the streets, AP reported.
The 5.6-magnitude quake started around 2:20 p.m. (19:20 GMT) and was centered about 30 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of Bogota, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
It struck at a depth of just 6 miles (10 kilometers) and lasted for about 40 seconds.
A number of smaller aftershocks were felt over the next hour.
Many people fled buildings fearing they could collapse and anxiously waited on the streets of Bogota. There were no immediate reports of deaths or major damage.
Phone systems were down briefly and calls to officials went unanswered.
President Alvaro Uribe interrupted a live town hall meeting in the country’s southwest to urge Colombians to contact their families.