Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes Panama, triggering tsunami warning

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake shook the Central American country of Panama on Friday, 9 October, causing panic in the capital and prompting warnings of dangerous tsunami waves. Panama has around 4.5 million inhabitants, and the tremors were felt across the country.

Epicenter and depth

The US Geological Survey (USGS) detected the quake at 1756 GMT. Its epicenter was 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the small town of Pitaloza Arriba in south-central Panama. The magnitude was initially measured at 8. The quake struck at a shallow depth of 12 kilometers, which means its impact is likely to be more severe.

Several large aftershocks followed the main shock, including one of magnitude 6.

Impact and warnings

No casualties have been reported so far, but extensive damage is expected, particularly in the center of the country. In Panama City, about 200 kilometers from the epicenter, many people were evacuated from buildings, according to journalists from the AFP news agency who were present.

The US Tsunami Warning System said waves of up to three meters high could hit the Panamanian coastline in the coming hours.

Earthquakes are rare in Panama. When they do occur, they usually strike in the western province of Chiriqui.