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Panama Earthquake Triggers Tsunami Warnings, Evacuations

6:13 PM ETConfirmed

World Desk

In Short: The U.S. Tsunami Warning System initially warned about the possibility of tsunami waves hitting Panama's coast, but later updated that no tsunami warning, advisory, watch, or threat had been issued, as reported by CBS News and The Jerusalem Post (Israel).

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Panama on Friday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, reported by ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos and MyNorthwest.com. The earthquake's epicenter was located 12 km west-southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, Panama, as detailed by ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia) and Woodradio.

The tremor, initially reported at magnitude 8.0, was later revised to 7.6 by the USGS, noted by En and Kanivatonga (New Zealand). The earthquake was felt in Panama City, the country’s capital, and in San José, the capital of neighboring Costa Rica, as reported by Informat (Romania) and Fox News.

Tsunami warnings were issued for parts of Central and South America, including Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico, according to ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia) and The Guardian.

Aerial footage showed people evacuating buildings in Panama, as reported by MyNorthwest.com and Woodradio. The National Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami danger for the West Coast, according to a release from the Grays Harbor County Emergency Management, noted by MyNorthwest.com.

Over a dozen aftershocks were recorded since the earthquake occurred, with a 5.5 magnitude aftershock following approximately 50 miles east of the initial earthquake, as reported by Fox News and Woodradio.

Tocumen International Airport in Panama City temporarily suspended operations and activated evacuation plans due to the earthquake, as reported by ABC7 Los Angeles and The Guardian.

The earthquake, centered about 10 kilometers southwest of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba, near Panama’s southern tip, was felt strongly in Herrera province, where it damaged several homes, as reported by The Guardian and The Jerusalem Post (Israel).

Seismologists at the University of Panama recorded more than 45 aftershocks, though many were too weak to be felt, as reported by ABC11 News and ABC7 Los Angeles.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center advised residents and those in affected coastal areas to remain alert and follow official guidance, as reported by Woodradio.

The earthquake struck southern Panama on the Pacific side of the country, according to the U.S., as reported by ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos and Woodradio.

The region is known for producing large, shallow earthquakes capable of generating tsunamis, as detailed by the SMS Tsunami Warning service, noted by Woodradio.

No immediate reports of damage or casualties were confirmed in Panama, with local agencies assessing the situation, as reported by Woodradio and Informat (Romania).

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• The system also said there was a tsunami threat to Hawaii.
• A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Panama, prompting a tsunami warning.
• The US Tsunami Warning System has cautioned that hazardous tsunami waves were possible along parts of the coasts of Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico within the next three hours.
• A strong 7.7 magnitude earthquake rattled Panama on Friday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
• The epicenter was 12 km west-southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, Panama.
• The earthquake struck southern Panama on the Pacific side of the country, according to the U.S.
• A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama on Friday morning, shaking buildings as far away as the capital and prompting evacuations, according to the U.S.
• Tremors were felt in Panama City, where buildings shook and people evacuated into the streets.
• The quake was centered about 10 kilometers (six miles) southwest of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba, near Panama’s southern tip, the USGS said.
• No damage was immediately reported in Panama.
• The earthquake was felt in Panama City, the country’s capital, as well as in San José, the capital of neighboring Costa Rica.
• Two powerful 7.7 and 6.6 magnitude earthquakes and a series of aftershocks struck Panama Friday afternoon, collapsing buildings near the epicenter and prompting evacuations across the country, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

What's still developing

• Panama lies along the "Ring of Fire," a 25,000-mile arc of volcanoes and fault lines around the Pacific Basin, where most of the world's earthquakes occur.
• Aerial view of mangrove in El Espave, Chame District, 80 km southwest of Panama City, on October 01, 2021.
• “We’re scared. It’s just the two of us old folks here. The house has cracked, and we’re afraid it could fall on us,” said Ricardo Brown, 74, speaking by phone from the Las Minas area in Herrera province in southern Panama, where he noted the quake damaged a number of homes.
• Tsunami officials warned that waves reaching 3 to 10 feet above tide levels were possible along some coastal areas of Panama, while parts of Ecuador could experience waves of approximately 1 to 3 feet.
• Earthquakes measuring between 7.0 and 7.9 can cause serious damage, according to Michigan Technological University.
• A tsunami threat advisory was also issued for Hawaii, while Chile’s Navy Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service issued its own national tsunami alert.
• As of the time of reporting, no casualties or destruction had been announced.

Sources

• ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videoslink
• ABC11 Newslink
• ABC7 Los Angeleslink
• CBS Newslink
• Enlink
• Fox Newslink
• Foxweatherlink
• Informatlink
• MyNorthwest.comlink
• The Jerusalem Postlink
• Woodradiolink
• Kanivatongalink
• Fox Newslink
• WarpBeat — background on 7.6-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Panama, Triggers Tsunami Warnings link
• CNN-News18 — video link