Major earthquake strikes Panama—damage and injuries are expected
The quake was a strike-slip event, and strong aftershocks could follow
A major earthquake struck Panama on Friday afternoon, with initial measurements indicating a magnitude of 8.0, later downgraded to 7.7 by the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake occurred around 9 miles southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, a small village in Herrera Province, affecting approximately 4.6 million people with moderate to severe shaking.
President Jose Raul Mulino has instructed personnel to mobilize resources and aid to the area. While no statistics on injuries or deaths have been released, the USGS and U.S. embassy in Panama warn of potential aftershocks. The tsunami threat, initially raised across multiple countries, has largely receded. USGS modeling suggests casualties could range from dozens to hundreds, with damages potentially exceeding $100 million.
Panama sits near the intersection of several major tectonic plates, with shallow lateral faults contributing to the powerful nature of this earthquake.
Written by urgent.news from Scientific American's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
