6.1 magnitude quake hits SW Colombia: USGS

CALI, COLOMBIA: A strong 6.1 magnitude earthquake shook southwest Colombia on Saturday afternoon, the USGS said, though there were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage.

The quake hit at 2:19 pm local time (1921 GMT), seven kilometers (four miles) northwest of the town of El Dovio in the Department of Valle del Cauca,  at a depth of 113.3 kilometers (70.4 miles), the US Geological Survey said.

Marta Lucia Calvache, a spokesperson for the Colombian Geological Survey, said the earthquake's depth had mitigated its impact and there were no reports of damages or injuries yet.

The quake was strongly felt in the city of Cali, capital of Valle del Cauca, where some buildings were evacuated preemptively, according to an AFP journalist.