Two powerful earthquakes struck Panama on Friday, damaging buildings, disrupting critical infrastructure, and sending panicked residents pouring into the streets. The initial tremor, registering magnitude 7.7, was felt strongly in the capital, Panama City, and across neighboring nations, followed shortly by a second earthquake measuring magnitude 6.6. Thousands of residents fled their homes, businesses, and offices into the streets for fear of structural collapse.
Video: social media
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter of the first earthquake was located near the town of Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera Province at a shallow depth of approximately 10 kilometers. Initially calculated at magnitude 8.0, the measurement was subsequently revised to 7.7. Afterward, more than 45 aftershocks were recorded, heightening fears among the local population.
The most severe damage was reported across Herrera, Veraguas, and Los Santos provinces, where residential housing, civic facilities, and historic landmarks sustained structural harm. Among the damaged sites, authorities reported the partial collapse of the historic San Atanasio Church, along with cracks and facade damage on multiple structures. In Panama City, high-rise skyscrapers swayed visibly, and viral videos showed water splashing violently from rooftop swimming pools onto adjacent structures.
Video: social media
In the immediate wake of the tremors, tsunami warnings were issued along coastal stretches of Central and South America, including Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Nicaragua, though they were later lifted as sea levels stabilized. At the same time, power outages plunged districts across six provinces into darkness, and Tocumen International Airport temporarily suspended operations as a precautionary measure. Despite the intensity of the shocks, the Panama Canal Authority confirmed that operations along the vital maritime corridor continued uninterrupted.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino described the seismic event as a major disaster, urging the public to remain calm while emergency protocols remain in effect. Official authorities reported several injuries, though preliminary casualty checks indicated no confirmed deaths. On Saturday, an additional 6.0 magnitude tremor rattled the country as emergency rescue and engineering crews continued assessing structural integrity and damage sustained across affected provinces.