Panama rattled by fresh 5.5 magnitude earthquake

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck the Panama region on Friday, following powerful twin earthquakes that shook the country's southern coast. The tremor triggered evacuations, damaged buildings and prompted tsunami warnings across parts of Central and South America. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported the latest quake, while the United States Geological Survey (USGS) initially recorded a magnitude 8 earthquake, later revising it to 7.6 and then 7.7.

The quake's epicenter was located about 10 km southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, a remote community in Herrera province, at a depth of 10 km. Multiple aftershocks, including magnitude 5.8, 5.5 and 5.2, continued to shake the country. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino confirmed no deaths, but expressed concern over the ongoing situation.

Damage was reported in central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos, including the collapse of the historic Church of San Atanasio in Los Santos province. Tocumen International Airport temporarily suspended operations before reopening, while the Panama Canal Authority stated that facilities were operating normally. Tsunami warnings were later lifted for several regional coastlines.