Magnitude 7.7 earthquake damages buildings in Panama; no casualties reported

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama shortly before 15:00 local time on Friday. Its epicentre was about 10km from the town of Pitaloza Arriba in south-central Panama.

The US Geological Survey said about 4.6 million people experienced moderate to severe shaking. No casualties had been reported, but the full extent of the damage remained unclear.

Damage reported across Panama

Verified footage showed part of a cathedral and one of its spires collapsing in Penonomé. Another video appeared to show a hotel that had almost completely collapsed. Damage was also reported in Soná and Las Minas.

Ricardo Brown, 74, told Reuters that several homes in his neighbourhood in Herrera province had been damaged. He said residents were afraid to return inside because the buildings might collapse.

People were evacuated from buildings in Panama City, about 200km from the epicentre. Initial reports suggested damage in the capital was limited to debris falling from roofs; a maternity ward was among the buildings evacuated.

Aftershocks and tsunami warnings

The earthquake occurred at a depth of about 12km. Several large aftershocks were reported near the epicentre, potentially complicating assessments of the situation.

Tsunami warnings were initially issued for 11 countries neighbouring Panama, but the US Tsunami Warning System later confirmed there was no threat. The Panama Canal, which links the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, was unaffected.

Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino said the entire government had mobilised to respond. The earthquake struck three days before a national evacuation drill scheduled in Panama for a major earthquake.