Panama hit by 6.4-magnitude earthquake

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck southern Panama on Friday, causing buildings to collapse and sending thousands into the streets. According to the US Geological Survey, the quake had an epicentre 10-14 kilometres from the small towns of Pitaloza Arriba and lasted around a minute.

The earthquake was felt across the Central American nation of around 4.5 million people, with scenes of panic in Panama City, about 200 kilometres from the epicentre. People rushed to evacuate skyscrapers, and videos showed water spilling from a pool at the top of a building over 20 storeys tall and a bridge over the Panama Canal shaking violently.

There were no immediate reports of casualties, although damage was reported in several provinces, including Penonomé, Chitré, and Venao. The National Civil Protection System reported damage to buildings, including the cathedral of San Juan Bautista, the governor's office, and a hotel. More than 30 aftershocks were recorded, and the Education Ministry cancelled afternoon classes nationwide. The Malaysian Meteorological Department reported that there was no tsunami threat to Malaysia.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Vibes, CBC News, Hindustan Times - World News, MercoPress, New Straits Times — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.