A powerful earthquake has struck southern Panama, shaking the capital and prompting evacuations as authorities issued tsunami threat messages for several coastal countries.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the earthquake at magnitude 7.6, with its epicentre near Pitaloza Arriba in Panama’s Herrera province and a depth of about 10km. The quake struck at 17:56 GMT on Friday, 9 October. An initial assessment by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center put the magnitude at 8.0.
The tremors were felt in Panama City and parts of neighbouring Colombia, prompting people to leave buildings and gather in open spaces.
Reports from Panama indicated structural damage in several areas, including damaged homes and buildings in the central provinces.
Some structures reportedly suffered partial collapses, while at least one person was injured by falling debris. Authorities began assessing the damage as aftershocks added to residents’ concerns.
The US Tsunami Warning System issued threat messages for parts of the Pacific coast, including Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Guatemala, among other areas.
Initial forecasts indicated the possibility of hazardous waves, with estimates varying by location.
The warning centre’s bulletins included potential waves of 1–3 metres in some areas of Panama. These were forecasts, not confirmed measurements of waves that had reached the coast.
Tsunami threats depend on the earthquake’s location, the movement of the seabed and local coastal geography. Authorities monitor sea levels and assess whether waves could pose a danger to coastal communities.
In Panama City, residents reportedly moved outside as buildings shook.
The tremors caused alarm across the capital, although reports indicated that the most significant structural damage was concentrated in parts of the country’s central provinces.
Officials began inspecting affected areas and monitoring the possibility of further damage from aftershocks.
The Panama Canal remained operational, according to initial reports, while inspections and assessments continued.
