7.6-magnitude earthquake strikes Panama; tsunami warnings issued in 8 countries

A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck Panama’s southern coast on Friday, prompting tsunami warnings for the Pacific coastlines of several Central and South American countries.

Reuters cited the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which reported that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers, noting that the agency downgraded its initial magnitude estimate from 8.0 to 7.6.

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System indicated a potential threat to the coasts of eight countries—Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico—for the three hours following the quake, with Hawaii also at risk.

News services

Residents of Panama City, the capital of Panama, and San José, the capital of Costa Rica, felt the tremors. Television footage showed buildings being evacuated, with no immediate reports of damage.