Powerful 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Panama, Triggering Regional Tsunami Alerts

POLICY WIRE — Panama City, Panama — A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the southwestern coast of Panama on Friday, triggering immediate tsunami warnings across several neighboring nations.

Data from the U.S. Geological Survey indicates the seismic event occurred at 1:56 p.m. ET. The initial tremor was followed shortly by two smaller aftershocks, measuring 5.5 in Bajo Corral and 5.8 in El Cacao.

In response to the activity, the U.S. Tsunami Center issued alerts for Panama, Ecuador, Colombia, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Peru.

The USGS pinpointed the epicenter approximately 6 miles southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, a remote community near the southern tip of the country. The quake originated at a depth of 6 miles.

The tremors were felt as far away as Panama City, where the city’s signature skyscrapers swayed, prompting residents to evacuate into the streets. Local citizens remained gathered outdoors, visibly shaken while awaiting further updates.

Rosendo Domínguez, a 60-year-old resident of Herrera province, described the intensity of the event during a phone interview. He noted that while the quake knocked items off his kitchen shelves, he and his family were safe, though the community remained in a state of fear.

Omar Smith, representing the National Civil Protection Service, confirmed that the most significant damage appears localized to the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera, and Los Santos. The National System for Civil Protection continues to assess the situation nationwide.

Panama is situated along the Ring of Fire, a major belt of seismic faults surrounding the Pacific Ocean that accounts for the majority of global earthquake activity.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)