A 7.7-magnitude earthquake hits Panama, Central America, shaking the capital violently

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Panama. The capital, Panama City, also felt strong shaking. People evacuated from buildings and gathered in the square. (AFP)

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake occurred in the Central American country of Panama today at 12:56 noon local time on October 9 (1:56 a.m. on October 10, Taiwan time). According to monitoring by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter was in the Pitaloza Arriba area in southern Panama. The epicenter was about 10 kilometers deep. The capital Panama City also felt violent shaking. Many people rushed to escape, but the extent of the disaster is still unclear.

Panama is located on the "Pacific Rim of Volcanoes and Seismic Belt", an area prone to earthquakes. Today, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake triggered an official tsunami warning. Parts of the Pacific coast of Panama are predicted to have tsunamis of 1 to 3 meters. Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua may also be affected by tsunamis.

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Panama used to be my country's diplomatic partner, but it severed diplomatic relations in June 2017. However, there are still many Taiwan-friendly members of the Panamanian Congress who often organize delegations to visit Taiwan.

A powerful earthquake occurred in Panama, with the United States Geological Survey measuring a magnitude of 7.7. (Picture taken from USGS)