Massive 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Southern Panama, Triggering Over 100 Aftershocks and Structural Damage

A major earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.7 has struck southern Panama, according to the US Geological Survey. Several people have suffered minor injuries, but officials report no fatalities or missing persons so far. The civil protection system noted that various homes, roads, hotels, government buildings, businesses, and churches have sustained structural damage. The USGS had previously indicated that some casualties were possible and extensive damage was probable.

Director of the Emergency Operations Center René García stated that the earthquake was followed by 147 aftershocks, with some reaching magnitudes of 6.1 or 6.6. Authorities are currently waiting for the tremors to subside before conducting structural inspections of damaged buildings. The most significant damage is reported in Coclé province on the nation's southern coast, alongside impacts in the capital, Panama City.

Verified footage shows multiple damaged buildings in Penonome, located roughly 70 miles from the epicenter, including a church with a partially collapsed steeple and a crumbled facade on another structure. In Playa Venao, a popular resort town, a multi-story building collapsed onto several cars. Along the Panama Canal, suspension cables on the Centennial Bridge shook as vehicles crossed. The canal authority confirmed that operations are continuing normally while staff inspect facilities for damage.

Panama City's public transit system suspended service on two metro lines and evacuated passengers from several stations, as panicked residents flooded the streets. Resident Kevin Cortez told Reuters from the ninth floor that the shaking was felt strongly. The Education Ministry canceled classes nationwide for the rest of the day, and Panama’s main international airport temporarily closed as a precaution before resuming operations.

President José Raúl Mulino has called for calm, instructed the minister of government to provide updates, and mobilized resources for affected areas. Mulino visited a hospital in Penonome where patients were evacuated and treated outdoors. Although the US Tsunami Warning System initially warned of possible tsunami waves, it later canceled the threat. Neighboring leaders from Venezuela and Colombia have offered assistance to Panama's government in responding to the disaster.