A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama on Friday, triggering significant structural damage and widespread shaking across the region. The US Geological Survey reported that approximately 4.6 million people experienced moderate to severe tremors, with the agency noting that the effects were likely to be extensive.
The quake occurred just before 15:00 local time (18:00 GMT), with its epicenter located roughly 6.2 miles (10km) from Pitaloza Arriba in south-central Panama. Registered at a shallow depth of 12km, the seismic activity increased the potential for severe surface damage.
Online footage revealed collapsed structures in the towns of Penonomé and Soná. Verified videos showed a section of a cathedral in Penonomé and one of its spires having fallen, while another clip captured the near-total collapse of a local hotel. One man was heard calling out to individuals trapped beneath rubble, though no casualties have been confirmed as of now.
Ricardo Brown, a 74-year-old resident of the Las Minas neighborhood in Herrera province, told Reuters that the quake damaged several homes in his area. “We’re scared. It’s just the two of us old folks here. The house has cracked and we’re afraid it could fall on us,” he said.
In Panama City, located about 200km from the epicenter, many people were evacuated from buildings and gathered in streets or parks until the shaking subsided. Damage in the capital appeared limited primarily to debris falling from roofs.
Several large aftershocks were reported near the initial event, potentially complicating emergency response efforts. The full extent of the destruction remains unclear.
President José Raúl Mulino stated that his government was fully mobilizing to address the crisis. “What happened should not be used to cause alarm or disorder,” he said.
Initial tsunami warnings were issued for 11 neighboring countries, but the US Tsunami Warning System later confirmed there was no threat. The Panama Canal, a critical waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, remained unaffected, according to the authority overseeing marine traffic.
The earthquake comes just three days before Panama was scheduled to conduct a national evacuation drill for major seismic events. It follows devastating earthquakes in Colombia and Venezuela earlier this year.
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