Moderate earthquake shakes Colombia's southwest

An earthquake of 5.3 magnitude shook the southwest of Colombia on Friday, without immediate report of casualties and important material damages.

Director of the Colombian Institute of Geology and Mining (Ingeminas) Mario Ballesteros said the earthquake occurred at 9:30 a.m. (1430 GMT) with the epicenter located some 30 km to Colato municipality in the department of Cauca and a depth of 148 km.

"This tranquilize us because as closer of the surface of the earth it occurs, it is felt stronger," Ballesteros said.

Officers of Ingeominas checked the regions of Cauca and the departments nearby in order to find damages due to the earthquake.

Ballesteros added that the earthquake was strongly felt in Calicity, capital of Valle del Cauca department and nearby departments.

Source: Xinhua