Tsunami alerts issued after strong earthquake rocks Panama

UPDATE - follow-up to 7.6 magnitude earthquake felt in Panama: US Geological Survey: A strong earthquake of magnitude 7.7 struck southern Panama on Friday, October 9, prompting tsunami warnings across Central and South America. The US National Weather Service issued alerts for Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Guatemala.

Damage And Aftermath

The tremor damaged buildings, triggered power cuts in six provinces, and sent thousands of residents running into the streets. No deaths or injuries were known immediately, though the US Geological Survey stated that casualties remain possible and economic losses could reach up to ten percent of the nation's GDP. The quake hit at a depth of 12.6 kilometres in a thinly populated area roughly 200 kilometres from Panama City, and was followed by more than 40 aftershocks. Major infrastructure including the Panama Canal, the Cobre Panama copper mine and Tocumen International Airport continued normal operations.

Official And Public Response

President Raul Mulino travelled to the city of Penonome to inspect damaged buildings and a church. Nestor Luque, who heads Panama's geosciences institute, linked the event to the Azuero Sona Fault System. Civil protection agency head Omar Smith reported damage in Herrera and Los Santos provinces. Residents in the capital and surrounding areas described long minutes of shaking, heavy traffic, and cracked homes.

Context

Panama rarely experiences earthquakes of this strength, making the widespread shaking particularly alarming for residents. The country had scheduled a national evacuation drill for the following Monday to test emergency readiness.