PANAMA CITY, Oct. 9 — A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck southern Panama on Friday, damaging homes and historic structures, cutting power in multiple provinces, and prompting temporary flight suspensions, while the Panama Canal continued ship passages without interruption, authorities said.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit at 12:56 p.m. local time at a depth of about 12.6 kilometers (7.8 miles), with an epicenter roughly 10 kilometers southwest of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province. USGS initially reported a magnitude of 8.0 before revising it downward.
Shaking was felt in Panama City, where thousands of people evacuated buildings, and as far as San José in neighboring Costa Rica and parts of Colombia. Damage was concentrated in the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera, Los Santos, and Coclé. Videos and local reports showed the partial collapse of a cathedral bell tower in Penonomé, facade damage to a hotel, and the collapse of a colonial-style church in Los Santos province. Civil protection chief Omar Smith reported several injuries, including one person struck by falling debris, but no deaths.
Electricity provider Naturgy reported power outages across six provinces. Tocumen International Airport, a major regional hub, temporarily suspended flights as a precaution before later resuming operations. Schools canceled afternoon classes, and parts of the Panama City Metro were briefly halted. More than 40 aftershocks followed, including one of magnitude 6.6.
The Panama Canal Authority said the waterway, which handles a significant share of global maritime trade, was operating normally, with staff inspecting facilities for any damage. About 90 vessels were waiting at either end of the canal at the time of the quake, according to shipping data.
A tsunami threat issued by the U.S. Tsunami Warning System for coastal areas of Panama and several neighboring Pacific countries was later lifted, with officials stating no further danger remained. President José Raúl Mulino called for calm and directed resources to affected areas.
USGS estimated that economic losses could range from 1% to 10% of Panama’s gross domestic product, noting that major earthquakes are relatively rare in the country. Roughly 43,000 people lived in areas of at least severe shaking, a lower exposure figure than recent large quakes elsewhere in the region due to the sparsely populated epicenter zone.
Officials continued assessing damage into Friday evening as aftershocks persisted.
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