A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake on Panama’s southern coast has sparked fears of extensive damage. Homes and buildings in various areas have been affected. Power supply has been cut off in six provinces of the country. Flight operations have also been temporarily suspended at the main international airport. With more than a dozen aftershocks felt after the main quake, panicked residents have left their homes to take shelter on the streets and in open spaces.
The earthquake struck southern Panama on Friday (October 9) afternoon, Reuters reported.
The report stated that the earthquake hit southern Panama on Friday afternoon. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake originated approximately 7.8 miles below the Earth’s surface. There are also concerns about potential casualties.
Television footage showed panicked residents gathering on the streets as successive tremors were felt. Some elderly individuals were also seen breaking down in tears.
Ricardo Brown, a 74-year-old resident of Herrera province in southern Panama, said, “We are scared. There’s no one here but the two of us elderly people. There are cracks in the house. We’re afraid it might collapse on us.”
He reported that several homes in the Las Minas area were damaged by the earthquake.
According to Naturgy, the electricity provider, power supply was disrupted in six Panamanian provinces due to the earthquake. Flight operations were also suspended at Tocumen International Airport, a crucial hub for regional air travel.
In the capital, Panama City, long traffic jams formed on the roads after the earthquake. Amid concerns about building safety, employees were dismissed early from various offices. The city’s metro rail service was also halted. With schools declaring early holidays, students in uniform were seen coming out onto the streets. Classes were also suspended nationwide.
The USGS’s preliminary assessment suggests that the earthquake could cause economic damage equivalent to 1 to 10 percent of Panama’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
People were evacuated from various buildings in the capital to safe locations. In Panama City, located approximately 200 kilometers from the epicenter, many were seen waiting on streets and in nearby parks for the tremors to subside.
Nestor Luque, director of Panama’s Institute of Geosciences, stated that the earthquake was caused by the activation of the Azuero-Sona fault system. According to him, pressure had been building up in this fault system for a long time. At one point, a massive release of energy from that pressure triggered the earthquake.
Nestor Luque said, “The earthquake’s tremors spread across the entire territory. That’s why it was felt everywhere in the country.”
He reported feeling tremors for about 40 seconds in the capital, Panama City. However, in some other areas of the country, the tremors might have lasted longer.
Sabina Rios, who was on the sixth floor of an old US military-era building in the capital, described the tremor as unusually strong and prolonged.
She said, “The earthquake was very strong and lasted for a long time. I haven’t felt such a prolonged tremor in years.”
The earthquake’s epicenter was near the relatively less populated La Pitaloza area of Herrera province, close to the Pacific coast.
A Reuters eyewitness reported that tremors were also felt in San José, the capital of neighboring Costa Rica.
Various scenes of damage from Penonomé, a town midway between the epicenter and Panama City, circulated on social media. Reuters-verified videos showed a church and several surrounding buildings damaged. There were also scenes of parts of structures collapsing.
Omar Smith, head of Panama’s civil protection agency, informed Telemetro Reporta that damage had also been reported from Chitré, the capital of Herrera province, and the coastal Los Santos province.
Meanwhile, the US tsunami warning system announced that the risk of a tsunami after the earthquake had passed. The agency stated that there is currently no tsunami threat.
A nationwide earthquake evacuation drill is scheduled to take place in Panama next Monday. This initiative aims to assess public preparedness for evacuation in emergency situations and the capabilities of relevant agencies.
The country’s President, José Raúl Mulino, announced that all government departments have been activated to manage the situation after the earthquake. He also urged people to avoid panic and disorder.
The President stated, “Panic or disorder should not be created around this event.”