Earthquake in Colombia

an hour ago there was a 5.6 magnitude earthqauke centered about 50 km from Bogota. We definitely felt it here. I had just gotten off the elevator and gone into my apartment when it started. My building was shaking and swaying for about 40 seconds. 

There are a few small towns or villages near the epicenter, and no reports yet of any deaths. Not much here in Bogota, but the news is showing some minor damage to a few buildings and some areas have lost power.

A very strange experience to be sure.  

there are so many disasters throughout the world everyday.my country sufferred from a very very terrible earthquake several weeks ago.The epicenter was located in Sichuan Province.the disaster shook the world actually.As a government leader said,"all the Chinese people who didn't die in the earthquake are the survival." He was right.no body can know that whether there would be a disaster happening tomorrow right in your living place.No any ordinary people like us can predict it and can avoid it ahead. Actually we must feel lucky that we are still alive today.Tonight I went to the english corner in our campus.my teacher told us that we should immediately say thank you to our mothers and fathers because you never know whether there would be another chance to do it.OK,at least we are still alive at present.So treasure everyone you love and everyone arround you.And do not make any enemy with any one arround you.Maybe one day the disaster  happend,he or she would become who save your life. Thank you.

glad to hear nobody got killed in the quake.

do you mean me gkiss or slipway to reply about your  comment?

Which comment, Ryo?

Thanks to everyone for their concern and well-wishes. I know that the situation here was nothing compared to the recent disasters in China and Myanmar, but I thought it would be interesting to post about a personal experience. 

What amazes me about this country still is that despite things like earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides (some recent ones killed a number of people) terrorists controlling parts of the countryside, militias, drug lords and the rest, Colombians remain some of the happiest and most optimistic people I have ever met. 

I'm really not sure, Mark. I think in general Latin cultures tend to be this way more (based on my limited experiences living in Colombia in Mexico and in a neighborhood mostly made up of Central Americans when I was in DC)

Just more of a laid back attitude. Music and dance are a much bigger part of the culture as is family, and the people are very proud of their countries despite their problems.  Things can be bad, but if you have some cold beer and some cumbia or salsa on the radio and some amigos, you can have a grand time.  

One thing they will NOT be happy about though is if you misspell the name of their country. It's ColOmbia not Columbia.

Ryo, I didn't say anything about your knowledge of science.

I said the science in the movie The Day After Tomorrow was very very bad.

You're right, the movie is sooooo bad, that it's funny.

The science is horrible though.  

The Day After Tomorrow was a good popcorn movie, I thought :)