Magnitude 7.7 earthquake hits Panama, tsunami warnings lifted

The epicentre was about 12 km (7 miles) southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, at a depth of about 12 km. According to RMF24, the quake struck at 12:56 local time (19:56 in Poland). Polish media reported different magnitudes: Interia gave 7.6, RMF24 7.7.

About 2.5 hours later a second strong shock, of magnitude 6.6, hit about 13 km west of Río Grande on the Pacific coast, CBS reported.

Tsunami warnings lifted

Tsunami warnings from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, covering Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Chile, Mexico and Hawaii among others, were lifted on Friday.

Damage and disruption

According to the National Civil Protection Service, the damage was mainly in the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos. No damage was reported in the capital, but people ran out into the streets. In Penonomé, in Coclé province, part of a historic church and part of a hotel façade collapsed.

Interia reports that 6 provinces lost power and that 2 metro lines and the airport were halted. The Panama Canal is operating normally while it is inspected. Al Jazeera reports that schools are closed.

As of Friday evening, no casualties had been reported. President José Raúl Mulino said: “What happened should not be used to cause alarm or disorder.”

“We felt it very strongly. It knocked things over in the kitchen, but we're OK, though we're very scared,” said 60-year-old resident Rosendo Domínguez.

According to CBS, it is at least the fourth earthquake above magnitude 7.0 in Latin America this year.