Powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake hits Panama, tsunami warning issued
A magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck the Central American country of Panama on Friday. The US Tsunami Warning System says waves of up to three meters could reach the coast.
A powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake shook Panama, a country in Central America, on Friday, causing panic in the capital and prompting a tsunami warning. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake was detected at 1756 GMT. The US Tsunami Warning System said waves of up to three meters high could hit the Panamanian coastline in the coming hours.
Epicenter and depth
According to the USGS, the epicenter was about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the small town of Pitaloza Arriba in south-central Panama. The quake was first measured at magnitude 8. It struck at a shallow depth of 12 kilometers, which means its impact was likely to be more severe.
The shaking was felt across the country, which has around 4.5 million people. Several large aftershocks followed the main quake, including one of magnitude 6.
Impact
No casualties had been reported yet, but extensive damage was expected, particularly in the center of the country. AFP journalists saw many people evacuated from buildings in Panama City, which lies about 200 kilometers from the epicenter.
Earthquakes are rare in Panama. When they do occur, they usually strike in the western province of Chiriqui.
