A shallow magnitude-7.7 earthquake and another powerful magnitude-6.6 event struck Panama on Friday, damaging buildings, interrupting electricity and transport services, and sending residents into open spaces as dozens of aftershocks followed.
The United States Geological Survey placed the magnitude-7.7 earthquake about 12 kilometres west-southwest of Pitaloza Arriba at 17:56 UTC, or 12:56 p.m. local time. It had a depth of approximately 12.6 kilometres, a relatively shallow measurement that can produce intense surface shaking. The event’s magnitude was initially estimated at 8.0, later revised to 7.6 and then reviewed at 7.7.
A separate magnitude-6.6 earthquake was recorded west of Río Grande. More than 45 aftershocks had been detected by the University of Panama as emergency teams began inspecting affected communities, according to the Associated Press. Shaking was also reported in parts of Costa Rica and Colombia.
No deaths had been confirmed. President José Raúl Mulino initially said on Friday evening that authorities had received no reports of anyone killed or injured. Panama’s civil-protection agency subsequently reported several injuries, however, including a person struck by debris when part of a structure collapsed in Penonomé. The later report supersedes the president’s preliminary assessment; authorities had not published a consolidated injury total.
Damage was reported principally in Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos provinces. Images and official accounts showed damage to the bell tower of Penonomé’s cathedral and to other structures in the city, including the provincial governor’s offices and a hotel. The Church of San Atanasio in Los Santos was also reported to have collapsed. Cracks appeared in some roads as authorities conducted further inspections.
Electricity was interrupted in six provinces. Panama City’s metro system temporarily stopped operating, schools were suspended nationwide and Tocumen International Airport halted flights while runways and facilities were inspected. Airport operations resumed later Friday.
The Panama Canal continued to operate normally, although technical inspections were underway. That distinction is important because the canal is one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Reuters reported that the USGS modelled potentially significant economic losses, but that forecast is not a confirmed damage estimate.
Tsunami alerts issued after the earthquakes were subsequently lifted. Seawater reportedly reached some homes near Isla Cañas, but officials had not reported a destructive tsunami. Residents should continue to follow local emergency instructions because strong aftershocks can damage structures already weakened by the initial shaking.
The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System classified the magnitude-7.7 earthquake as an Orange event, indicating potential for a medium humanitarian impact. Its preliminary model estimated that about 500,000 people experienced severe shaking of intensity VII or higher. These are exposure estimates rather than confirmed casualty or damage figures.
