Unnerved Panamanians sleep in streets as aftershocks rattle quake-hit towns

Panamanians awoke on Saturday night on the streets, unnerved by aftershocks following two powerful earthquakes that shook the Central American nation. The magnitude 7.7 and 6.6 tremors toppled buildings and prompted evacuations across the region. Seismologists recorded dozens of aftershocks, including ones measuring magnitudes 5.8, 5.5, and 5.2. The earlier quake, felt as far away as Colombia, struck near the community of Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province.

In La Villa de Los Santos, a colonial-era town northeast of the epicenter, homes and a historic Catholic church collapsed. Residents who slept in the streets since Saturday afternoon, waiting for government guidance, expressed shock at the intensity of the quake. Panamanian authorities have not reported any deaths. While damage was concentrated in central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera, and Los Santos, Panama City reported no major damage.

Several injuries were reported, including one from a partially collapsed structure in Penonomé, about 93 miles from the capital. The airport temporarily suspended operations but reopened later in the day. The Panama Canal Authority confirmed normal operations along the global trade route, prioritizing employee, vessel, and crew safety. The last major earthquake to cause widespread damage struck Panama in 1991, killing 23 people and leaving thousands homeless in Bocas del Toro.