A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Panama early Friday, sending tremors through the capital and surrounding provinces. The quake’s epicenter was located about 10 kilometers (6 miles) southwest of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province, at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Immediate impact and local response
Residents of Panama City gathered outside their homes, waiting for official information. “We felt it very strongly. It knocked things over in the kitchen, but we’re okay, though we’re very scared,” said 60‑year‑old Rosendo Domínguez, a Herrera native. “Everyone is outside, scared.”
Aftershocks continued to rattle streets shortly after the main shock. The National Weather Service issued a tsunami warning for the coasts of Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Guatemala, prompting coastal communities to move to higher ground.
Government statements and damage reports
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino called for calm on the social platform X, writing, “What happened should not be used to cause alarm or disorder.” Omar Smith of the National Civil Protection Service told the Telemetro Reporta news channel that damage was concentrated in the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos, and that there were no reports of damage in the capital, which is known for its many skyscrapers.
Local video footage showed a Catholic cathedral collapsing and part of a hotel façade falling onto a car in the city of Penonomé, located in the central province of Coclé. No casualties were reported at the time of publication.
Geological context
Panama sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a 40,000‑kilometer (25,000‑mile) arc of volcanoes and fault lines that generates the majority of the world’s earthquakes. The nation’s Civil Protection agency said it was investigating possible damage in regions near the epicenter.
What residents can do
Authorities advise anyone near the coast to follow official tsunami guidance, stay away from low‑lying areas, and keep emergency supplies on hand. Residents in affected provinces should remain vigilant for aftershocks and report any structural damage to local civil protection officials.
For ongoing updates, follow reputable news sources and the official channels of Panama’s National Civil Protection Service.
Original reporting: 2news.com — read the source article.
