It was reported that an earthquake of magnitude 7.7 occurred in the south of the Central American country Panama.
According to the statement made by the US Geological Survey (USGS), the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that occurred in the Pitaloza Arriba region near the southern tip of Panama was recorded at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers.
TSUNAMI ALERT IN THE PACIFIC
Following the earthquake, which was also felt in the capital Panama City, a tsunami warning was issued for coastal regions in the eastern Pacific. The first images revealed the severity of the earthquake.
THE PRESIDENT MADE A STATEMENT
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, in his statement on the social media platform of US-based company X, called on the public to remain calm.
Mulino stated that relevant institutions continue to inform the public about the effects of the earthquake and emphasized that the earthquake should not be used in a way that will cause panic, fear and chaos.
DAMAGE ASSESSMENT WORKS HAVE STARTED
According to the national press, after the 7.7 magnitude earthquake in the south of Panama at 12.56 local time, local authorities and emergency teams started damage assessment studies.
NO LOSSES OF LIVES OR INJURIES WERE REPORTED
While cracks were detected in buildings in Pitaloza Arriba, the epicenter of the earthquake, and in Herrera and Los Santos provinces, the Panama National Civilian Protection System (SINAPROC) announced that according to initial findings, no loss of life or injury was reported.
PEOPLE TOOK TO THE STREETS
Throughout Panama, people were quickly evacuated from buildings, shopping malls, schools and homes to open areas. In the images shared on social media, it was seen that thousands of people took to the streets and open areas and some buildings were damaged.
It was reported that structural damage occurred in the historical San Juan Bautista Cathedral, the governor's building and many buildings in the city of Penonome, Cocle province, where the earthquake was effective.
TSUNAMI ALERT IN PACIFIC COASTAL COUNTRIES
The US Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami warning for Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and some parts of the Mexican coasts for the next 3 hours after the earthquake.
The warning stated that there was also a tsunami risk for the US island state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean.
MORE THAN 30 AFTERSHOCKS OCCURRED
While more than 30 aftershocks of magnitude 2.1 to 6 were recorded after the earthquake, experts warned that the aftershocks could continue in the coming hours.
In the capital city of Panama, while metro services were stopped and high-rise buildings were evacuated, it was shared that infrastructure checks were continuing following the power and communication outages in some regions.
The earthquake was felt in many cities of Colombia as well as some Central American countries.
