Magnitude 7.6 Earthquake Shakes Panama and Panama City

A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck southern Panama on Friday morning, shaking buildings in the capital and prompting people to evacuate into the streets, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake was centered near the country's southern tip, approximately 14 kilometers southwest of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba.

The tremor was felt in Panama City, where residents left buildings and gathered outdoors while awaiting information about the impact. The initial report from CP24 described the event as a developing story, with further details not yet available. Reports collected by VolcanoDiscovery indicated that the shaking was felt across Panama, Costa Rica and Colombia.

The monitoring website received approximately 600 reports, including 465 from people who said they had felt the earthquake.

According to VolcanoDiscovery, reported shaking extended approximately 550 to 900 kilometers from the epicenter. Panama City accounted for 60 reports, while San Jose, Costa Rica's capital, recorded 17, and San Miguelito, Panama, recorded 11.

VolcanoDiscovery placed Panama City approximately 206 kilometers northeast of the epicenter. San Jose was about 449 kilometers northwest, while San Miguelito was approximately 215 kilometers northeast of the earthquake's center. Reports from residents described varying levels of ground movement, from gentle swaying to strong shaking that caused objects to fall and fixtures to swing. The accounts were submitted by users and represent personal observations rather than official measurements of earthquake intensity.

In Panama Pacifico, approximately 194 kilometers northeast of the epicenter, one report described strong shaking lasting about a minute, with continued trembling afterward. Another account from Boquete, approximately 231 kilometers northwest of the epicenter, described a house moving, chandeliers swinging and an item falling from a kitchen counter. At Panama's international airport, approximately 224 kilometers northeast of the epicenter, a user reported losing balance as lights flickered and people became frightened. Other reports described rocking vehicles, swinging doors and objects falling from walls or shelves.

Some reports also came from Costa Rica, including the San Jose area, where residents described buildings swaying. The range of accounts indicated that the earthquake's effects were noticed well beyond the immediate area surrounding its epicenter. VolcanoDiscovery said its user reports began arriving within three minutes of the shaking and that the information was continuing to be updated.

The available source reports did not establish a confirmed death toll, injury count, or comprehensive assessment of structural damage. The USGS identified the earthquake's location near Pitaloza Arriba in southern Panama. Further information about the event's consequences remained pending in the cited reports.