Panama: Severe earthquake in Panama – all-clear for tsunami danger

Panama City. After the severe earthquake in Panama, there was a temporary tsunami alarm on parts of the Pacific coast of Central and South America and Mexico. Hours later, the warning was lifted. The responsible authority announced that the tsunami danger had passed. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu initially warned of dangerous waves on parts of the coasts of Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico. Wave heights of one to three meters were considered possible for parts of the Panamanian coast.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred in Panama at 12:56 p.m. local time on Friday. The epicenter was around ten kilometers west-southwest of Pitaloza Arriba in the central south of the country, at a depth of around twelve kilometers. The USGS initially put the magnitude at 7.6, but subsequently increased it to 7.7. The warning center in Honolulu initially reported a magnitude of 8.0 and a depth of 33 kilometers.

In several regions of Panama, people left their homes, workplaces and businesses for fear of further tremors. In the capital, streets, parking lots and parks became gathering points for people who had left buildings as a precaution.

“It was the biggest scare of my life,” one woman told Panamanian television station TVN after searching for her baby and husband during the quake. Another eyewitness said he was initially frightened, ran outside with his hands over his head and sought safety next to support pillars.

According to Panamanian media, damage was found in Penonomé, among other places. The city is located around 150 kilometers west of the capital Panama City in the province of Coclé. A tower of the San Juan Bautista Cathedral, a hotel and the provincial administration building were affected. Damage was also reported at the Cathedral of Santiago in Veraguas province. Dozens of aftershocks were recorded. No injuries were initially reported.

The government ordered the closure of state institutions and suspended afternoon classes nationwide. Tocumen International Airport temporarily suspended operations for security checks, but then resumed operations. There were also restrictions on drinking water supplies in some areas due to power disruptions. The Panama Canal remained operational, according to the canal administration. President José Raúl Mulino called on the population to remain calm. “What happened must not be used to raise alarm and cause unrest,” he wrote on the X platform.

The damage in Panama brought back memories of major earthquakes in other parts of the region in recent months. Two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 in Venezuela killed thousands of people in June.

A magnitude 7.4 quake in Colombia in August killed over 300 people. Colombia's President Abelardo de la Espriella expressed his solidarity with Panama. "Panama is not alone! You can count on Colombia's support and that we are ready to provide any help needed," he wrote on