USGS Reports Magnitude 7.6 Earthquake Shakes Panama

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama on Friday morning according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), causing buildings in the capital to shake and triggering evacuations. The USGS initially reported a magnitude of 8.0 but later adjusted it downward, with final readings settling at approximately 7.6 or 7.7 depending on the source article. Residents in Panama City were visibly shaken by the strong tremor that knocked things from kitchens, prompting many to flee outside into the streets while civil protection services worked on site assessing damage.

The epicenter was located near the southern end of Central America, roughly six miles (14 kilometers) southwest of Pitazola Arriba in Herrera Province. The United States Tsunami Warning System issued potential tsunami alerts for Panama and neighboring countries including Ecuador, Colombia, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Peru, Mexico, Honduras, and Chile. While some coastal areas may experience waves between one and three meters high, Colombian authorities stated there is no tsunami threat on their coasts.

President José Raúl Mulino urged calmness as officials prepared to provide updates on the sismo's effects. This event marks a significant seismic activity in Panama this year following major earthquakes elsewhere in Latin America that resulted in thousands of deaths during summer months. Multiple aftershocks have been reported near the epicenter, and it remains unclear if victims or extensive material damage will be confirmed as more information becomes available.