Public anxiety surged across Colombia after 39-year-old opposition senator and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay was shot on June 7 during a rally in Bogotá’s Fontibón district, in the borough of Modelia, leaving him in a critical condition after emergency neurosurgery.

The incident has jolted the people, reopening painful wounds from Colombia’s past and sparking debates over the growing political polarisation.

As the nation reeled from the political shock, it was dealt another blow just a day later. At 08:08 local time, a magnitude 6.5 Mw (6.4–6.6 on the Richter Scale) earthquake struck Bogotá, Cundinamarca, and surrounding areas, with the epicentre in the town of Medina at a shallow depth of 9 km. Although no fatalities were reported, over 25 people were injured, and structural damage was inflicted on historic churches, rural architecture, and various buildings. The ground ruptured, and key roads linking towns were cracked and disrupted.

The back-to-back crises have left many Colombians unsettled, fueling a sense of tumult and sparking fears that the country could once again slip into the unrest of the 1980s and 1990s, when powerful drug cartels, paramilitaries, and corrupt state forces fought violently for control.

Economically, the twin shocks have engendered uncertainty in local markets; the benchmark COLCAP equity index dropped 0.5% and the Colombian peso weakened 0.3-0.7 % against the US dollar during the week, amid expectations of increased public spending on security and post-quake reconstruction. Analysts warn that the convergence of seismic and political instability may dent foreign investment flows, with investor confidence potentially shaken if political violence escalates.

As citizens gather in prayer, candlelit vigils and solidarity marches – particularly around the Fundación Santa Fe clinic where Uribe Turbay remains hospitalised – public demands for unity and de-escalation have intensified. The government of President Gustavo Petro has called for calm and promised a transparent investigation, though observers note that rebuilding trust will demand a holistic strategy addressing both civic security and democratic resilience.

In response, media commentators and citizens alike evoked Colombia’s darkest historical chapters. Jairo Pulgarín of Tropicana radio wept live on air as he reflected on the violence, saying the images “hurt in the heart” and that the country had returned to a moment of crisis reminiscent of its worst days.

Renowned artists publicly called for unity and introspection, urging Colombians to channel grief into peace rather than succumb to fear. 

Beyond the hospital, street vigils, social media appeals and impromptu interviews across Bogotá depict a populace torn between admiration for Uribe Turbay’s political rise and fear that the republic could slide back into armed civil conflict.

Several Bogotá residents that were interviewed described an atmosphere of collective unease. One teenager told a local newspaper she was “scared for the future” because, as the country advances technologically and economically, political violence could quickly reverse all the progress made. Another passerby, recalling Colombia’s transition from conflict to stability over the past decade, said: “It’s like our history is knocking again at the door.”

While no major protests have erupted, online forums and social media threads reflect an increasingly vocal and anxious public demanding stronger security measures. Analysts warn that unless authorities move swiftly to restore confidence and implement meaningful reforms, the crisis could deepen partisan divides and deter investors.

Yet Colombia is grappling with more than just the aftermath of a shooting and an earthquake – it is confronting the fragility of its democratic and social stability. The weekend’s events have stirred deep anxieties and reopened unresolved tensions, leaving many to wonder whether the country is sliding back into the turmoil it fought so hard to leave behind.