Another earthquake in Panama after 7.6 magnitude quake that collapsed buildings

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama on Friday at 12:56 local time, centered on the Azuero peninsula in Herrera province. Panamanian authorities have not confirmed casualties but continue inspections, as damage was reported in several provinces. The epicenter was 14 kilometers southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, a sparsely populated area near the Pacific coast, 240 kilometers from Panama City.

The Institute of Geosciences estimated the magnitude at 7.2. A shallow depth was attributed to the Azuero-Sona fault system. Over 30 aftershocks were recorded, with the National Civil Protection System warning of continued aftershocks with decreasing intensity. The Education Ministry canceled afternoon classes, public offices closed, water supply cut, and Tocumen international airport temporarily suspended operations in some areas.

The Panama Canal Authority reported normal operations. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami alert for the coasts of several Central American countries, which was later lifted. President José Raúl Mulino called for calm and requested an emergency report on the effects. The earthquake follows a magnitude 7.4 quake in Colombia that killed 335 people on August 10.