Major earthquake destroys buildings, roads in Panama

On Friday, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama, causing widespread destruction across the Central American nation. No immediate reports of casualties were reported, but the earthquake left many people traumatized and some buildings and roads in ruins. The epicenter of the quake was located in central Herrera province, approximately 10 kilometers from the small town of Pitaloza Arriba.

The tremor lasted for around a minute and was felt across the entire country of around 4.5 million people. In Panama City, located about 200 kilometers from the epicenter, panic ensued as people rushed to evacuate their homes and businesses. The shaking was particularly strong and prolonged, with heavy objects falling from shelves and roofs.

As the disaster unfolded, President Jose Raul Mulino declared the situation a major catastrophe and called for a comprehensive damage assessment. Schools in the country were suspended, and several flights were diverted as a precautionary measure. Despite the severity of the earthquake, the Panama Canal Authority confirmed that shipping through the canal remained unaffected and was operating normally.

The Panamanian government swiftly mobilized emergency response teams to assist the affected regions, including Herrera, Cocle, and Los Santos provinces.