Earthquake Collapses 16th Century Cathedral Bell Tower in Panama

A powerful earthquake damaged a historic religious landmark in central Panama on Friday morning, when a magnitude 7.7 tremor caused the bell tower of St. John the Baptist Cathedral to collapse in Penonomé, Coclé province. Video footage showed the tower's collapse as the earthquake shook buildings in the capital, Panama City.

The earthquake also prompted evacuations in Panama City and was felt across the border in neighboring Colombia, according to the report published by Yahoo News Canada. The collapse affected a cathedral dating to the 16th century, making the damage a significant event involving one of the country's historic religious structures.

St. John the Baptist Cathedral stands in Penonomé, a city in Panama's central province of Coclé. Video footage documented the loss of its bell tower following the powerful seismic event.

In the capital, Panama City, the earthquake shook buildings and led to evacuations. The tremors extended beyond Panama, with residents in neighboring Colombia also feeling the earthquake, according to the report.