Aftershocks Rock Panama Following Largest Quake in Decades

Panama experienced its strongest earthquake in over seven decades on Friday, resulting in the evacuation of the capital's international airport and widespread panic. The magnitude-7.7 quake struck Herrera Province, located more than 120 miles southwest of the Panama Canal. Early estimates suggest economic losses in the region could exceed $1 billion.

This was the strongest quake to hit that area since at least 1951. A magnitude-6.6 aftershock followed late Friday, with eight others of magnitude 4.8 or higher recorded. The initial quake occurred along a major plate boundary on the Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone encircling the Pacific Ocean. Geophysicist Jonathan Tytell noted the event's "messy" nature and shallow depth, which made it particularly dangerous as the energy remained close to the surface.

The USGS initially reported an 8.0 magnitude but later revised it to 7.7. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned of one to three-meter waves along Panama's coast, though all warnings were eventually lifted. The Panama Canal resumed operations with emergency protocols and inspections, while the government mobilized resources to assist affected individuals.

President José Raúl Mulino called for immediate action and preventive measures. People fled buildings across the country in fear, with local officials expressing concern over the lack of earthquake experience in Panama. Although there were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries, the aftershocks left many feeling anxious and unsafe.