Massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake strikes Panama as officials investigate potential tsunami threat
A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck off Panama's southern coast Friday, shaking the country's capital as officials investigated a potential tsunami threat.
The U.S. Geological Survey initially measured the earthquake at magnitude 8.0 before lowering its estimate to 7.7. The quake struck at 1:56 p.m. ET, at a depth of 7.8 miles, near Pitaloza Arriba, Panama.
A 5.5 magnitude aftershock followed, with its epicenter approximately 50 miles east of the initial earthquake.
The Panama Canal said operations were continuing normally following Friday's earthquake, with emergency protocols activated and technical teams inspecting facilities for possible damage. Canal officials said their priority was ensuring the safety of workers, vessels, crews and nearby communities as assessments continued.
The earthquake was felt in Panama City and in San José, the capital of neighboring Costa Rica, according to Reuters.
Tsunami officials warned that waves reaching 3 to 10 feet above tide levels were possible along some coastal areas of Panama, while parts of Ecuador could experience waves of approximately 1 to 3 feet.
Smaller tsunami waves of less than 1 foot above tide levels were forecast for coastal areas of Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru.
COLOMBIA BUILDING COLLAPSES ON CAMERA AS EARTHQUAKE BRINGS DEATH, DESTRUCTION
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said in a series of posts on X that he was visiting areas affected by Friday's earthquake and coordinating emergency assistance with government officials.
Mulino said he had ordered the mobilization of personnel, resources and aid for affected communities, along with structural assessments to determine the extent of the damage. He also thanked neighboring countries for their support and said assistance from the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) would go toward helping those affected.
The president said he was traveling through Penonomé with government officials to coordinate relief efforts and thanked the United States and other countries for their offers of assistance.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a Friday post on X that the State Department was rapidly mobilizing resources and personnel to assist Panama at the request of the Panamanian government. Rubio said the U.S. was closely monitoring the earthquake and directed Americans needing assistance to the department's 24-hour consular hotline at +1-202-501-4444 from abroad or +1-888-407-4747 from the U.S. and Canada.
The U.S. Embassy in Panama also said it was assessing potential damage and working to account for the safety and whereabouts of visitors and personnel. In a separate X post, the embassy urged Americans in Panama to enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program at STEP.State.gov and follow its social media accounts for updates.
Despite the potential danger to coastal communities near the earthquake, officials said a Pacific-wide tsunami was not expected.
Information about possible damage or casualties from Friday's earthquake was not immediately available.