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A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck southern Panama on Friday, damaging buildings and roads, forcing thousands of people to evacuate and triggering a tsunami alert across parts of the Pacific region.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred at a depth of around 12.6 kilometres, with its epicentre near Pitaloza Arriba, approximately 200 kilometres from the capital, Panama City.
The powerful tremor was felt across the country, sending residents rushing out of homes, offices and high-rise buildings.
Several structures were damaged, while reports indicated that parts of roads had collapsed in affected areas.
In Penonomé, buildings housing local government offices and a historic church sustained damage.
Residents in the southern province of Herrera also reported cracks in homes, raising concerns about the safety of damaged structures.
Panamanian authorities began assessing the extent of the damage as aftershocks continued to shake the country.
More than 40 aftershocks were reported following the initial earthquake, prompting further concern among residents.
The quake initially triggered tsunami alerts for Panama and several other countries along the Pacific coast, including Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico. The threat was subsequently lifted, with no significant tsunami damage reported.
Despite the powerful tremor, the Panama Canal continued operating normally, while Tocumen International Airport resumed operations after a temporary suspension of flights.
Authorities had not reported any deaths at the time of initial assessments, although damage evaluations were continuing.
The earthquake was attributed to seismic activity associated with the Azuero-Soná fault system. Officials urged residents to remain cautious as aftershocks could continue.