Tsunami alert after major earthquake rocks Panama

Tsunami alert after major earthquake rocks Panama Alexander Pol Deputy Editor A magnitude 7.7 earthquake jolted Panama on Friday, setting off panic in the capital city and warnings of dangerous tsunami waves. USGS said the quake was detected at 5:56 p.m. GMT with an epicenter 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the small town of Pitaloza Arriba in south-central Panama. Its magnitude was initially measured at 8. The quake was recorded at a shallow depth of 12 kilometers (7.5 miles), meaning its impact was likely to be more severe. It was felt across the country of around 4.5 million people, according to the USGS. Several large aftershocks, including a magnitude 6 tremor, were recorded. There were no reports yet of casualties, but extensive damage was expected, particularly in the center of the Central American nation. AFP witnessed many people being evacuated from buildings in Panama City, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the epicenter. Tsunami waves up to three meters (10 feet) high could hit the Panama coastline in the coming hours, the U.S. Tsunami Warning System said. Earthquakes are rare in Panama, and when they do occur, they usually strike in western Chiriqui province. © 2026 AFP