A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck southern Panama on Friday, damaging homes, disrupting electricity supplies and grounding flights at a major international airport, while a series of aftershocks heightened fears among residents.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 12.6 kilometres. It warned that casualties were possible as authorities assessed the damage across affected areas in Panama.
Residents rushed out of their homes and workplaces as the prolonged tremors shook buildings across the country. More than a dozen aftershocks followed the initial quake, adding to public anxiety.
In Las Minas, a community in Herrera province, 74-year-old resident Ricardo Brown said his house had developed cracks, raising fears that it could collapse. Several other homes in the area were also reported damaged.
The earthquake disrupted power supplies in six provinces, according to electricity provider Naturgy. Tocumen International Airport, a major aviation hub in the region, temporarily suspended flight operations.
Authorities also halted services on Panama City’s Metro system as traffic congestion increased across the capital. Offices released employees early, while schools across the country suspended classes as a precaution.
Nestor Luque, director of Panama’s geosciences institute, attributed the earthquake to the Azuero-Soná Fault System, where accumulated geological stress can trigger powerful seismic activity.
He said seismic waves had travelled across the country, explaining why the earthquake was felt in areas far from its epicentre.
In Panama City, the shaking reportedly lasted around 40 seconds, although residents in some locations may have experienced longer tremors. People described the earthquake as unusually intense and prolonged.
The epicentre was located near the rural community of La Pitaloza in Herrera province, a sparsely populated area close to the Pacific coast. Tremors were also felt in neighbouring Costa Rica, including its capital, San José.
Damage was reported in several communities, including Penonomé, where a church and nearby buildings were affected. Authorities also reported impacts in Chitré, the capital of Herrera province, and along the coast of Los Santos province.
Despite the disruption, the Panama Canal continued operating normally. The vital shipping route lies approximately 203 kilometres from the earthquake’s epicentre.
Around 90 vessels, including bulk carriers, tankers and container ships, were waiting at the canal’s entrances to transit or access nearby port facilities, according to shipping-monitoring data.
The USGS estimated that the economic losses could range between 1% and 10% of Panama’s gross domestic product, although the final impact would depend on the extent of damage and disruption.
Meanwhile, the US Tsunami Warning System announced that the tsunami threat associated with the earthquake had passed, with no further tsunami danger expected.
Major earthquakes are uncommon in Panama, making the incident a significant test of the country’s emergency preparedness. Authorities had been scheduled to conduct a nationwide evacuation exercise the following Monday to assess responses to earthquake-related emergencies.
