Traumatised Panamanians begin quake recovery

Residents near the epicenter of a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake in southern Panama began cleanup efforts on Saturday. The previous day's heavy shaking caused widespread damage but no reported deaths. Aldulfo Quintero, a 41-year-old resident, expressed fear of future quakes and described the event as unprecedented. Over 100 aftershocks, some reaching magnitude 6.0, have been recorded in the days following the initial quake.

About 30 people have been treated for minor injuries, but no fatalities have been reported. While the capital, Panama City, more than 200km from the epicenter, experienced significant shaking, no major damage was reported there. Dozens of homes in Chitre, the capital of the hard-hit Herrera province, were damaged, leaving 66,000 residents without electricity on Saturday.

The earthquake's epicenter was located about 60km from the border of Herrera, Los Santos, and Veraguas provinces. Strong shaking was felt in Panaman City, causing panic among the population. President Jose Raul Mulino arrived in one of the affected areas to assess the damage, describing the situation as massive. The United States, a member of the new "Shield of the Americas" initiative, pledged rapid support.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that his office was mobilizing resources and personnel to assist Panama. The top US military commander in the region, Francis Donovan, directed immediate support, including aerial airlifts of personnel and supplies. This quake marks the fourth 7.0 or higher magnitude earthquake in Latin America this year, following devastating earthquakes in Venezuela and Colombia.