Panama: Schweres Erdbeben in Panama – Entwarnung bei Tsunami-Gefahr

A powerful earthquake struck Panama, prompting a temporary tsunami alert along the Pacific coast of Central and South America, Mexico, and parts of Panama. The tsunami warning was lifted hours later, as confirmed by the responsible authority. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu initially warned of dangerous waves along the coasts of Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico.

For certain parts of the Panamanian coast, wave heights of one to three meters were possible. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred on Friday at 12:56 PM local time in Panama, with its epicenter located around ten kilometers west-southwest of Pitaloza Arriba in central southern Panama, at a depth of about twelve kilometers.

The USGS initially estimated the earthquake's strength at 7.6, but later increased it to 7.7. The warning center in Honolulu initially reported a magnitude of 8.0 and a depth of 33 kilometers. In several regions of Panama, people fled their homes, workplaces, and businesses out of fear of further tremors. In the capital, streets, parking lots, and parks served as gathering points for people who had left buildings preemptively.

"It was the greatest fright of my life," said a woman to the Panamanian news channel TVN, after searching for her baby and husband during the earthquake. Another eyewitness mentioned that he had initially panicked, ran outside with his hands over his head, and sought safety near support pillars. Several provinces reported damages.

In Penonomé, damage was found to the cathedral's tower, a hotel, and the building of the provincial administration. The cathedral in Santiago also reported damages in the Veraguas province. Dozens of aftershocks were recorded. Injuries were initially not reported. The government ordered the closure of government facilities and suspended afternoon classes nationwide.

The international Tocumen Airport temporarily halted operations for safety checks, but resumed flights afterwards. Due to power disruptions, some areas experienced limitations in water supply. The Panama Canal remained operational. The canal's administration stated that no damage occurred. President José Raúl Mulino called on the population to stay calm, stating that the incident should not be used to trigger further alarms and unrest.

He posted this on the X platform. Several severe earthquakes in the region in recent months brought memories of devastating earthquakes in other parts of the region in the past months. In Venezuela, two earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 in June claimed thousands of lives. A magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Colombia in August caused over 300 deaths.

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella expressed solidarity with Panama, stating that Panama is not alone and that Colombia stands ready to provide any necessary aid. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed the solidarity of the United States and announced that Washington would mobilize rescue teams and additional support upon request from the Panamanian government.