Earthquake rocks central Colombia

At least six people were killed when a shallow, 5.6-magnitude earthquake hit Colombia on Saturday, destroying homes and shaking buildings in the capital Bogota, where panicked residents fled into the streets.

Three people, including a small baby, were killed when an avalanche crushed their car and three more died in landslides. The quake blocked a highway out of Bogota and flattened ten houses and a church near the epicentre, authorities said.

"They died trapped by landslides," President Alvaro Uribe told a community meeting where he updated the death toll.

Its epicentre was located about 55km (34 miles) from the capital Bogota, near the town of Villavicencio, the US Geological Survey reports.

Bogota residents ran outside fearing buildings would fall, then stood around dazed in the rain, correspondents say.

The victims are reported to have been killed when rocks from a landslide hit the car they were travelling in.

At least 15 houses and a church were reported to have been damaged, says the Efe news agency.

"A family was travelling in a car when rocks fell on them," said Interior Minister Carlos Holguin, according to Reuters news agency. "There are eight other people injured by landslides."

Evacuation

Bogota Mayor Samuel Moreno told local radio some buildings in the city were slightly damaged.

"The report we have so far is that it was strong and some structures have suffered damage," he said.

One government building in Bogota was evacuated after the quake sent a shower of bricks tumbling off one of its walls, Reuters adds.