Panama: powerful earthquake causes significant damage and leaves at least 27 injured

A powerful earthquake of high magnitude (7.7) shook Panama, causing the collapse of buildings and roads. Authorities have already recorded 27 injuries, but there are fears that there could be more.

AFP journalists observed several collapsed buildings and a damaged cathedral in this town in the province of Coclé but also in the fishing village of Santa Catalina, in the province of Veraguas.

The earthquake occurred at 12:56 p.m. local time, with an epicenter located 10 km from the small town of Pitaloza Arriba, in the south-central province of Herrera, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Tonosí, a town of 9,000 inhabitants, is one of the worst affected areas. Health Minister Fernando Boyd said the town was cut off from the world by land.

There have been no reports “so far” of “people killed” by the earthquake, the head of the Emergency Operations Center, René García, told AFP.

According to civil protection, the earthquake caused 27 minor injuries across the country and damaged homes, schools, hospitals, churches, administrative buildings, bridges and roads.

“I am in shock and I have not been able to contact my family,” Luis Poveda, an employee of a factory located in Santiago de Veraguas, in the center of the country, told AFP.

It was “crazy,” says Ariel Apolayo, a 46-year-old teacher. “We thought it (the earthquake) was light, but then it felt stronger, and stronger. The cars were swaying,” he said.

The Panama Canal authorities announced that the route linking the Pacific and the Atlantic and through which 5% of world maritime trade passes was operating “normally”. Specialized teams inspect its facilities.

Tocumen International Airport, a major air hub in Latin America, was temporarily closed and several flights diverted to other air terminals, as a preventative measure, according to civil aeronautics.

Panamanian President José Raul Mulino visited Penonomé late in the afternoon. “We are facing a great disaster,” he said, referring to “totally collapsed” roads in the most affected areas. The Ministry of Education has decreed the suspension of classes.

The earthquake, felt for about a minute in the country of 4.5 million inhabitants, was also powerful in the capital Panama, unaccustomed to tremors, where thousands of frightened people left buildings, AFP noted.

More than a hundred aftershocks occurred after the mainshock, which was also felt in neighboring Costa Rica.

The presidents of Colombia, Ecuador and Guatemala expressed solidarity with Panama and said they were ready to send aid if necessary. American Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed on