Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Strikes Panama, Causing Damage

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama, causing damage to buildings and widespread shaking. Approximately 4.6 million people experienced moderate to severe tremors, according to the US Geological Survey, which indicated that the effects of the quake were likely to be widespread. The earthquake occurred just before 15:00 local time (18:00 GMT) on Friday, with its epicenter located about 6.2 miles (10 km) from the town of Pitaloza Arriba in south-central Panama. Footage shared online shows collapsed buildings in the towns of Penonomé and Soná, including a video of a man calling out to anyone trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building. No casualties have been reported so far. A maternity ward in Panama City was among the buildings evacuated during the tremors. Verified footage indicates that one side of a cathedral in Penonomé collapsed due to the shaking, along with one of its spires. Another video depicted a local hotel that had nearly completely collapsed. Ricardo Brown, a resident of the southern Herrera province, reported damage to several homes in his neighborhood of Las Minas, stating, "We're scared. It's just the two of us old folks here. The house has cracked and we're afraid it could fall on us." The full extent of the damage remains unclear, although several large aftershocks were reported near the initial earthquake, potentially complicating the situation. The quake was registered at a depth of 12 km, which increases the likelihood of severe effects on the surface. Many individuals were evacuated from buildings in Panama City, approximately 200 km from the epicenter, and were seen in the streets or nearby parks until the shaking ceased. Damage in the capital appears limited to debris falling from roofs. Panama's President José Raúl Mulino stated that his entire government was mobilizing in response to the earthquake, adding, "What happened should not be used to cause alarm or disorder." Initial tsunami warnings were issued for 11 countries neighboring Panama, but the US Tsunami Warning System later confirmed there was no threat. The Panama Canal, a crucial waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, was reported to be unaffected by the earthquake. This earthquake occurred just three days before Panama was scheduled to conduct a national evacuation drill for a major earthquake, and follows significant earthquakes in Colombia and Venezuela earlier this year.