Panama: A strong 7.7-magnitude quake hit Panama on Friday, rocking the Central American nation and causing damage to roads and buildings. The quake lasted about a minute, shaking the entire country – home to some 4.5 million people. There were no immediate reports of casualties after the quake.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the epicenter of the earthquake was about 10 kilometres from the small town of Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province, at 1756 GMT. The USGS’s initial estimate was a magnitude 8.0, but this was changed to 7.7.
Residents in Panama City some 200 kilometres away from the epicentre were evacuated from high-rise buildings as the tremors raged on and on. Watching the videos on social media, one could see water falling from a rooftop swimming pool and the shaking of a bridge spanning the Panama Canal as cars were driven across.
Roads Collapse as Emergency Response Begins
Mulino, the president of Panama, said it was “a major disaster” as some roads had “entirely collapsed.” He went to Penonome to head the emergency response.
Health Minister Fernando Boyd declared Herrera, Cocle and Los Santos as the three worst-affected provinces. The town of Tonosi, at Los Santos was reportedly completely cut off by road, which meant the officials needed to look into the possibility of getting to that area by air.
The residents also reported some very frightening moments in the earthquake. In Penonome, one of the women said that her daughter became trapped inside the school, raising concerns about the safety of the people in affected areas.
Damage reports were received from various parts of the country, and authorities started to evaluate the situation and provide support.
Tsunami Warning Lifted, Flights Diverted
A tsunami advisory was issued for the eastern Pacific after the earthquake, but was subsequently canceled. The country’s Civil Aeronautics Authority said Panama City’s international airport was temporarily closed as a precaution with several flights diverted to other airports.
Shipping continues normally through the Panama Canal, which connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the Panama Canal Authority said.
The leaders of Colombia, Ecuador and Guatemala expressed solidarity with Panama and offered it with assistance. Emergency staff remained in place to assess the damage, open up cut off areas and decide on the extent of the earthquake’s effects.