PANAMA CITY — A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck southern Panama on Friday, damaging structures and prompting thousands to evacuate buildings across the nation. Initial reports indicated the country escaped widespread destruction or deaths.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported the earthquake hit at a depth of 12.6 kilometers (7.8 miles). Its epicenter was located in a sparsely populated region approximately 200 kilometers (124 miles) from Panama City. The shaking lasted about one minute.
In Panama City, residents evacuated skyscrapers during scenes of panic. Salomon Andion, 46, described leaving his 15-story building: "I was scared because the shaking was very strong and prolonged. Heavy objects like dressers, the bed, and all the kitchen items were shaking."
Videos circulated on social media showing water cascading from a rooftop pool of a building over 20 stories tall. Another video depicted a bridge over the Panama Canal swaying violently but remaining intact as vehicles crossed it.
President Jose Raul Mulino said the country was facing "a major disaster" and confirmed that some roads had "completely collapsed." Juana Alveo, a 38-year-old cashier in Penonome, a city in central Cocle province, called the event "horrible," adding that her daughter was trapped in school during the quake.
Nestor Luque, director of the national geosciences institute, observed 40 seconds of vibrations in Panama City. He noted other areas might have experienced longer tremors. The USGS estimated that approximately 43,000 Panamanians lived in areas facing severe exposure to the earthquake.
Despite more than 40 aftershocks, critical infrastructure maintained operations. The Panama Canal and the Cobre Panama copper mine reported normal functioning. Tocumen International Airport lifted its suspension on flights.
Power outages were reported in six provinces by electricity provider Naturgy. The USGS estimated potential economic losses for Panama could range between 1 percent and 10 percent of its gross domestic product.
Strong earthquakes are uncommon in Panama. Some older residents were seen in tears while evacuating. The country had planned a national evacuation drill for the following Monday to assess its emergency response capabilities.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on social media that he was "closely monitoring reports" of the earthquake and that the United States stood ready to offer assistance if required.
