Panama struck by a 7.7‑magnitude quake, damage amid tsunami warnings

A massive 7.7‑magnitude earthquake has hit Panama, damaging buildings and prompting a large‑scale tsunami warning for neighbouring countries.

Around 4.6 million residents felt moderate to severe shaking, US Geological Survey data shows, with effects likely to be widespread. The tremor struck just before 15:00 local time (18:00 GMT) and could trigger tsunamis in Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile and Mexico, according to the US Tsunami Warning System.

The epicentre lay about 6.2 miles (10 km) from the small town of Pitaloza Arriba in south‑central Panama, and a swarm of shallow aftershocks followed. Footage circulating online, still unverified by BBC, suggests collapsed buildings in Penonomé and Soná.

The quake registered at a depth of only 12 km – the shallower the quake, the greater the surface impact. Full damage assessments are pending, and casualties, if any, have yet to be confirmed.

Evacuations led to multiple buildings in Panama City being emptied, 200 km (124 miles) from the epicentre, according to AFP. The disaster occurred a mere three days before a scheduled national evacuation drill for major earthquakes, adding urgency to relief efforts.

It follows devastating earthquakes in Colombia and Venezuela earlier this year, underscoring the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity.