A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake has struck Panama, damaging buildings and roads, injuring at least 27 people and triggering mass evacuations, with no deaths reported so far.
The shallow earthquake struck at 12:56 pm local time on Friday, with its epicentre about 10 kilometres from Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The USGS initially measured the earthquake at magnitude 8.0 before revising it down to 7.7.
According to Panama’s National Civil Protection System, the tremor was felt across the Central American country, which has a population of about 4.5 million.
Rene Garcia, head of emergency operations, told AFP that there had been no reports of fatalities at the time of reporting.
Buildings Damaged as Residents Flee
The earthquake triggered panic in Panama City, about 200 kilometres from the epicentre, as residents rushed out of high-rise buildings following the initial tremor and subsequent aftershocks.
Salomon Andion, 46, told AFP that he was frightened by the intensity and duration of the shaking after evacuating his 15-storey building for the second time.
“I was scared because the shaking was very strong and prolonged,” he said.
He added that heavy household items, including dressers, beds and kitchen equipment, were shaken by the tremor.
Videos shared on social media showed water spilling from the rooftop swimming pool of a building more than 20 storeys tall. Another video showed a bridge over the Panama Canal shaking violently while vehicles continued to cross it.
President Jose Raul Mulino described the situation as a major disaster, saying some roads had completely collapsed.
“It was horrible, like nothing we ever experienced. My daughter was trapped in school,” Juana Alveo, a 38-year-old cashier in Penonome, told AFP.
The National Civil Protection System reported 27 people with minor injuries across the country.
Tsunami Warning Lifted as Airport Closes
A tsunami warning was issued for the eastern Pacific following the earthquake but was later lifted.
Panama City’s international airport was temporarily closed as a precaution, forcing several flights to divert to other airports, according to the Civil Aeronautics Authority.
However, the Panama Canal Authority said shipping through the strategic waterway connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans remained unaffected and continued operating normally.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that Washington was closely monitoring the situation and mobilising resources and personnel to assist at the request of the Panamanian government.
The presidents of Colombia, Ecuador and Guatemala also expressed solidarity with Panama and offered assistance.
Mulino travelled to Penonome to coordinate the emergency response.
Health Minister Fernando Boyd identified Herrera, Cocle and Los Santos as the worst-affected provinces. He added that Tonosi, a town in Los Santos, had been completely cut off.
“We are trying to figure out how to get there by air, because it’s impossible by land,” Boyd said.
More Than 80 Aftershocks Recorded
The earthquake caused extensive damage in several communities, with reports of collapsed homes and damaged public buildings.
Benjamin Gonzalez, 52, told AFP that he returned to his home near La Miel to find many houses devastated. Residents gathered in the town square amid widespread fear and a power outage.
His neighbour, David Castillo, said residents were reluctant to return to their homes because they feared another earthquake.
Former president Ricardo Martinelli also shared photographs on Instagram showing the collapse of his house in Sona, Veraguas province. A church and a hotel in Penonome reportedly sustained extensive damage.
Panama’s local geosciences institute recorded more than 80 aftershocks, including one exceeding magnitude 6.0.
Mulino urged residents to remain calm and warned against spreading panic and disorder.
He said he had requested a report on the damage caused by the earthquake.
The education ministry subsequently announced the suspension of classes in schools nationwide.
Earthquakes Rare in Panama
Earthquakes are relatively rare in Panama and occur more frequently in the western province of Chiriqui, which borders Costa Rica.
The latest disaster adds to a series of powerful earthquakes recorded across Latin America in 2026.
According to the original report, the Panama earthquake was at least the fourth in the region this year to exceed magnitude 7.0, following two consecutive earthquakes in Venezuela’s La Guaira region in June and a powerful tremor in western Colombia in August.
Emergency authorities continued assessing the damage and coordinating relief efforts as residents faced the risk of further aftershocks.
