A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck southern Panama on Friday, damaging homes, cutting power across multiple provinces, and forcing the temporary suspension of flights at a major airport. Residents rushed into the streets as strong aftershocks continued to rattle the country.
The US Geological Survey reported that the quake hit at a shallow depth of 12.6 km near La Pitaloza in Herrera province. Officials warned that some casualties remained possible while emergency teams assessed the full impact. Television footage captured elderly residents standing outside in tears as weaker aftershocks kept coming.
In Las Minas, 74 year old Ricardo Brown described the fear many felt. “We’re scared. It’s just the two of us old folks here. The house has cracked, and we’re afraid it could fall on us,” he said. Homes across the area suffered visible cracks and structural damage.
Power outages hit six provinces according to electricity provider Naturgy. Tocumen International Airport, a key regional hub, suspended all flights while authorities checked runways and terminals. The Panama Canal, located about 203 km from the epicentre, continued normal operations. Around 90 vessels waited at both ends of the waterway with no reported interruptions to ship passage.
Nestor Luque, director of Panama’s geosciences institute, explained that the quake originated from the Azuero Sona Fault System. Stress had built up over time before releasing suddenly. Seismic waves travelled across the entire country, which is why people felt the shaking even in distant areas. In Panama City some residents counted 40 seconds of continuous vibration. Sabina Rios, who was on the sixth floor of an older building, said it was the longest and strongest tremor she had experienced in years.
Traffic jammed as offices sent workers home early. The Metro stopped service and schools nationwide closed for the day. Students in uniform filled the streets after classes were dismissed. Verified social media videos from Penonome showed a damaged church and several collapsed buildings nearby. Impacts were also reported in Chitre and along the coast in Los Santos province.
A tsunami threat linked to the quake has now ended, according to the US Tsunami Warning System. Panama had already planned a national earthquake evacuation drill for the following Monday. Major earthquakes remain rare in the country, yet this event caused widespread disruption and left many residents anxious about further aftershocks.
