Panama: 7.6 magnitude earthquake causes panic in the capital, tsunami alert issued

A strong earthquake was felt in the Panamanian capital, Panama City, as well as in neighboring Costa Rica, prompting the launch of a tsunami alert in the eastern Pacific. The US Geological Survey recorded the quake as a magnitude of 7.6 and said it occurred along the country's southern coast.

The tremors caused panic in Panama City, where buildings shook and residents took refuge in the streets. Visibly shaken, they are still waiting for information on the consequences of the earthquake. The USGS initially announced a magnitude of 8 before revising it to 7.6 and located its epicenter 10 km from Pitaloza Arriba, in the south-central part of this country. It occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers, specifies Associated Press.

Several replicas

No damage was immediately reported in Panama, while hundreds of people evacuated buildings, AFP noted. Panama's Civil Protection said it was investigating possible damage in areas near where the earthquake struck. The National Weather Service issued a tsunami warning in the evening for the coasts of Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Guatemala, which could be impacted in the next three hours. The system also indicated that there was a tsunami threat for Hawaii.

Earthquakes in the capital of this Central American country are unusual and occur mainly in the province of Chiriquí in western Panama. Several significant aftershocks, including magnitude 6, were reported after the strong earthquake and authorities are assessing some damage, especially in the central areas of Herrera, Azuero, Veraguas, Los Santos and other regions. According to preliminary reports, the earthquake was felt throughout Panama. The authorities called on the population to calm down.