M7.7 earthquake shakes Panama, prompting evacuations

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama on Friday, shaking buildings in the capital and prompting evacuations. The quake was centered about 10 kilometers southwest of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba, in the central province of Herrera, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It struck at a depth of 10 kilometers.

The earthquake was felt as far away as neighboring Colombia, with around 4.6 million people experiencing moderate to severe shaking. A tsunami warning was issued for the coasts of Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. According to The Korea Times, residents of Panama City gathered outside, visibly shaken, as they waited for news of the quake's impact.

The full extent of the damage and potential casualties are not yet clear. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino called for calm, mobilizing personnel, resources, and aid to the affected area. Footage shared online appears to show collapsed buildings in some towns, but this has not been verified. The U.S. Geological Survey warned that strong aftershocks could follow the quake.

Brief written by urgent.news from Japan Today, Scientific American, The Korea Times, CBS News, BBC World — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.