Powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake strikes Panama after initial 8.0 estimate, triggering tsunami warnings across Pacific coast

A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck near Panama’s southern coast on Friday, shaking buildings in Panama City and prompting evacuations as authorities assessed possible damage. The U.S. Geological Survey initially measured the quake at magnitude 8.0 before revising it downward to 7.6, while tsunami warnings and threat advisories were issued for several countries along the Pacific coast of Central and South America.

The earthquake struck at about 12:56 p.m. local time at a shallow depth of around 10 kilometers, with its epicenter near the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba. The shaking was also felt in San José, the capital of neighboring Costa Rica.

Television footage showed people evacuating buildings in Panama City, while residents closer to the epicenter reported objects being knocked over by the force of the shaking. Panama’s Civil Protection agency began assessing affected areas, with no immediate reports of deaths, injuries or major damage.

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System warned of potential hazardous waves along parts of the coasts of Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico. Authorities across the region began monitoring coastal areas following the earthquake.

Panama lies near the boundary of several tectonic plates and has experienced major earthquakes in the past, although destructive events of this magnitude are relatively uncommon. The shallow depth of Friday’s quake increased the potential for strong surface shaking, making assessments of communities near the epicenter particularly important.