Climateupdated 1h ago2 min read
7.7 Earthquake Strikes Southern Panama, Triggers Tsunami Warning and Evacuations
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A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck southern Panama, epicenter ~10 kilometers southwest of Pitaloza Arriba. Tsunami warnings were issued across the Pacific for several countries and later lifted.
50 outlets told this the same way.
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Panama quake triggers evacuations
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck southern Panama on Friday, prompting evacuations in Panama City and triggering a tsunami warning for neighbouring countries, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
The USGS initially reported a magnitude of 8 before revising it to 7.6 and then 7.7, and it placed the epicentre about 10km from Pitaloza Arriba in south-central Panama.
The BBC said the quake hit just before 15:00 local time and that it could trigger tsunamis in Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile and Mexico, according to the US Tsunami Warning System.
The BBC also reported that about 4.6 million people felt moderate to severe shaking, and it said the effects were "likely to be widespread".
The Panama Canal Authority said operations continued "normally" and that emergency protocols had been activated to inspect facilities for possible damage.
Aftershocks, damage reports
After the main quake, aftershocks of 6.1, 6.0 and 5.3 occurred, and residents in buildings were evacuated even as ABC reported that no significant structural damage was initially reported.
ABC said Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport ordered a temporary closure of its facilities and conducted a preventive passenger assessment.
AP reported that the bell tower of St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Penonomé collapsed after the magnitude 7.7 earthquake, and it said the quake shook buildings in the capital and prompted evacuations.
AP also reported that the USGS recorded the quake at a depth of 10 kilometers and that multiple aftershocks continued, including magnitudes 5.8, 5.5 and 5.2.
Rosendo Domínguez, 60, told The Associated Press by phone, "We felt it very strongly. It knocked things over in the kitchen, but we’re okay, though we’re very scared," as he described everyone gathering outside.
Officials urge calm, monitor
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino asked the public to remain calm, and he told authorities to keep him continuously informed about the consequences of the earthquakes.
ABC reported that Mulino asked the Minister of Government, Dinoska Montalvo, and the security agencies to keep him informed, and it said he urged fellow citizens to remain calm.
The BBC said many people were evacuated from buildings in Panama City, about 200km away, and it reported that the full extent of damage was not yet clear.
ABC News reported that Panama’s National Civil Protection System said it was not considering asking for international help at this time while it evaluated damage.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was closely monitoring reports of the earthquake, and he told the BBC’s developing audience, "The United States stands with the people of Panama," adding that the State Department was rapidly mobilizing resources and personnel.