A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama, causing damage to buildings and prompting widespread tsunami warnings for surrounding nations. The earthquake, which occurred shortly before 3 p.m. local time, was felt by approximately 4.6 million people, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The epicenter was located about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the small town of Pitaloza Arriba in south-central Panama. The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 12 kilometers, which can lead to more severe surface effects. Several shallow aftershocks followed the main tremor.
Unverified footage circulating online appears to show collapsed structures in the towns of Penonomé and Soná. In Panama City, approximately 200 kilometers from the epicenter, many people were evacuated from buildings. The full extent of the damage and any potential casualties remain unclear.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued alerts for Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, and Mexico due to the possibility of tsunamis. This earthquake comes just three days before Panama was scheduled to conduct a national evacuation drill for a major earthquake scenario. The region has also experienced significant seismic activity this year, with devastating earthquakes occurring in Colombia and Venezuela earlier in the year.