Powerful earthquake shakes Panama

Strong 7.7 Earthquake Rocks Southern Panama, Disrupting Transport and Services

Sandego.net – A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.7 struck southern Panama, damaging buildings, interrupting public services and sending frightened residents into streets across the country.

Authorities said several people sustained minor injuries, while no deaths or missing people had been confirmed in the initial aftermath. Damage has been identified at homes, roads, hotels, businesses, churches and government facilities as emergency teams assess affected areas.

The US Geological Survey indicated that casualties were possible and that significant destruction could occur near the quake zone. Penonome, located roughly 70 miles from the epicenter, was among the communities showing visible signs of the impact.

Damage Seen in Penonome and Playa Venao

Images from Penonome showed damaged structures, including a church whose steeple had partly fallen. Another building had a severely broken façade. President José Raúl Mulino later traveled to a hospital in the city, where patients were evacuated and treatment had to continue outdoors.

In Playa Venao, a well-known resort town, a multi-story building collapsed onto several vehicles. The incident illustrated the immediate risk posed by structural damage even in areas where residents had already left buildings during the shaking.

Officials have begun directing resources toward communities affected by the earthquake. The full extent of the destruction remains unclear as inspections continue and aftershocks persist.

Panama Canal Operations Continue

The earthquake was felt along the Panama Canal, where the suspension cables of the Centennial Bridge were seen moving while traffic continued across the structure. Canal officials said operations were proceeding normally, though personnel were examining facilities for possible quake-related damage.

The canal is a critical route for global shipping, making post-earthquake inspections especially important. Continued operations do not rule out further reviews as engineers and staff assess infrastructure following the severe tremor.

Elsewhere, Panama City’s metro system halted service on two lines and evacuated passengers from some stations. Large numbers of people gathered outdoors after leaving homes and offices amid the prolonged shaking.

“I am on the ninth floor here and yes it was felt strongly, it was felt strongly,” Panama City resident Kevin Cortez told Reuters.

“Everything was moving: the lamp, the chair, the table,” another resident said. “I decided to stay and wait because I knew running down the stairs was a problem. So I stayed waiting for it to pass. I had no other option. Yes, we felt it was quite prolonged. People running, shouting; not everyone takes it the same way, but well, here we are, downstairs.”

The accounts reflect the difficult decisions people face during a major quake, particularly in high-rise buildings. Residents may react differently depending on where they are when shaking starts, the condition of a building and the availability of safe exits.

Airport, Schools and Water Facilities Affected

Panama’s Education Ministry canceled classes nationwide for the remainder of the day. The closure affects students and families across the country while officials focus on safety checks and the recovery response.

The country’s principal international airport was also shut temporarily as a precaution. Flights were diverted to alternate airports before regular operations restarted later in the day, civil aviation authorities said.

Power outages caused by the earthquake disrupted several water-treatment plants, the water and sewage institute said. Such interruptions can affect water service beyond the immediate damage zone, especially when treatment systems depend on stable electricity supplies.

President Mulino appealed for calm and instructed the government minister to keep the public informed about the quake’s consequences. He also ordered the mobilization of assistance for those impacted.

Aftershocks Raise Continuing Concerns

More than 40 aftershocks have followed the initial earthquake. One had a preliminary magnitude of 6.6, underscoring that the threat to damaged structures and unsettled communities did not end with the first major tremor.

Earlier in the day, the US Tsunami Warning System warned that some coastlines could experience tsunami waves. The system later said the tsunami danger had passed.

Aftershocks can complicate emergency operations because buildings weakened by the main earthquake may become more dangerous during subsequent shaking. Authorities are continuing to inspect public facilities, transportation routes and other essential infrastructure.

Regional Support Offered

The Panama earthquake is the latest major seismic disaster to affect Latin America this year. During the summer, two powerful earthquakes in Venezuela killed more than 6,400 people. Colombia also experienced a tremor that left about 300 people dead.

Leaders in Venezuela and Colombia have offered help to Panama as its government manages the disaster response. Their offers come as Panamanian authorities work to establish the scale of damage, restore interrupted services and support communities hit hardest by the quake.

With inspections still underway and aftershocks continuing, the situation remains fluid. Residents in affected areas are likely to face ongoing disruptions while emergency services and public agencies evaluate buildings, transportation systems, water facilities and other vital services.