The United States Geological Survey reported that the tremor hit at around 1 p.m. local time, centered about 12 kilometers west-southwest of Pitaloza Arriba at a shallow depth of roughly 12.6 kilometers. The initial magnitude, briefly estimated as high as 8.0, was subsequently revised to 7.7.
Tsunami Alerts and Regional Response
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre and national authorities initially issued tsunami warnings for nine countries, including Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico. Coastal communities braced for potential waves, with seismologists at the University of Panama noting expected surges between 3 to 10 feet around Isla Cañas and parts of Los Santos province where seawater reached nearby homes.
However, officials lifted the tsunami alerts hours later after confirming that no major destructive waves materialized. The U.S. National Weather Service also confirmed that no tsunami threat existed for the Unitedest States West Coast.
Damage, Injuries, and Infrastructure Impact
While no deaths were immediately confirmed, Panama’s National Civil Protection System reported at least 27 people sustained minor injuries. In the town of Penonome, television footage and images revealed partial building collapses, damaged vehicles, and cracks in the town’s historic cathedral and governor’s office.
Dozens of aftershocks rattled the region, with the Emergency Operations Center recording over 140 subsequent tremors, including notable shocks measuring magnitudes of 6.1 and 6.6. Authorities ordered the closure of schools across the country, while Tocumen International Airport temporarily halted operations on its runways before gradually resuming normal traffic. Several incoming flights were diverted to Barranquilla, Colombia.
Critical Infrastructure and Official Reactions
Despite heavy shaking felt across Panama City—where several high-rise office and residential buildings were evacuated—authorities reported no major structural damage in the capital. The Panama Canal Authority confirmed that transit and operations along the vital global trade route remained entirely uninterrupted, with specialized technical teams inspecting facilities as part of emergency protocols.
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino urged citizens to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified panic on social media. Meanwhile, international leaders responded swiftly, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating that Washington was closely monitoring the disaster and rapidly mobilizing emergency resources at the request of the Panamanian government.
Reporting source: mirror.co.uk.