7.7-magnitude earthquake hits Panama

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama on Friday, according to the US Geological Survey, prompting tsunami warnings off the coast. The quake originated in Herrera Province, approximately 200km southwest of the Panama Canal, and had a depth of 12.6km. Initially registered as an 8.0 magnitude, the USGS later revised the magnitude to 7.7.

Panama's geological institute reported the quake as a 7.2. Although some buildings sustained damage, the critical Panama Canal trade waterway remained unaffected. People across various regions evacuated buildings, businesses, schools, and homes following the seismic event. Elderly residents, representing a rare occurrence of such magnitude in Panama, were seen in tears in the streets, as television images captured the aftermath.

Ricardo Brown, speaking from Las Minas in Herrera province, expressed fear for the structural integrity of his home, which had cracked during the tremor. Shaking was also felt in San Jose, Costa Rica's capital, according to a Reuters witness. Civil protection agency head Omar Smith reported impacts in Chitre, the capital of Herrera, and along the coast in Los Santos province.

Videos showed a historic building's tower collapsing and balconies of a residential building in Penonome breaking. The Panama City Metro temporarily suspended service on two lines for safety reasons. Nationwide, the education ministry ordered school closures. The country was scheduled to conduct a national evacuation drill the following week to assess its emergency response capabilities against earthquakes.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued warnings of potential tsunami waves off the coasts of Panama and several neighboring countries. This earthquake followed a series of seismic events in Latin America, including Venezuela's twin earthquakes in late June that claimed nearly 6,500 lives and caused extensive damage along the northern coast.

In August, Colombia experienced a powerful earthquake that leveled buildings and inflicted major damage in cities like Cali and Pereira, resulting in a death toll exceeding 330 and triggering an economic emergency as authorities grappled with a reconstruction bill estimated at $10 billion.