Panama struck by 7.7 magnitude quake, shaking millions, tsunami warning issued

Massive 7.7 earthquake rattles Panama, damaging buildings and triggering a wide‑range tsunami alert for neighboring nations.

Collapsed buildings in Panama

About 4.6 million people felt moderate to severe shaking, the US Geological Survey said, warning that impacts could be widespread.

The quake, felt just before 15:00 local time, could trigger tsunamis in Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile and Mexico, the US Tsunami Warning System announced.

The epicentre lay around 10 km from the small town of Pitaloza Arriba in south‑central Panama, with a series of shallow aftershocks following the main shock.

Shallow depth of 12 km meant surface effects were intense, though the full extent of damage and possible casualties remain unclear.

Panama City, 124 miles away, evacuated several buildings, reports AFP, just three days before a national evacuation drill was due.

The tremor follows earlier devastating quakes in Colombia and Venezuela, highlighting the region’s seismic volatility.