Strong 7.7 Quake Rocks Panama, Damaging Buildings Across Central Provinces While Canal Stays Open
The shallow quake damaged buildings, roads and power infrastructure across several provinces, while a tsunami warning was later cancelled and major transport links resumed operations.
A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of roughly 7.7 struck southern Panama on Friday afternoon, producing strong shaking across several central provinces and prompting widespread evacuations. The epicenter was located near the small community of Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera Province at a shallow depth of about 12 kilometers. Because the quake was both large and relatively shallow, it generated intense ground motion that was felt strongly in towns and cities more than 100 kilometers away, including parts of the capital region.
Within minutes of the main shock, residents poured into streets and open areas. In the following hours, seismologists recorded more than 40 aftershocks, several of them strong enough to be felt. One aftershock measured approximately 6.6 magnitude. The continued shaking slowed damage inspections and kept many people outside as a safety precaution. Structural damage was concentrated in Herrera, Veraguas, Los Santos, and Coclé provinces. Local reports and images showed cracked walls, partially collapsed building facades, and a damaged church steeple in the city of Penonomé. Several hotels, government offices, and residential structures also sustained visible cracks or partial failures, especially older buildings closer to the epicenter.
Power outages hit at least six provinces after lines were damaged or protective systems activated. Some roads and bridges were temporarily closed while engineers checked for cracks or shifts. Despite the size of the event, authorities said there were no reports of large-scale fatalities. A limited number of minor injuries were treated, and some residents were moved to temporary shelters or outdoor medical areas while buildings were assessed. Panama's civil protection agency deployed teams to inspect critical infrastructure and assist local communities. President José Raúl Mulino activated emergency resources and asked the public to stay calm and rely on official updates.
A tsunami warning was issued for sections of Panama's Pacific coast and parts of neighboring countries shortly after the quake. The alert was later canceled once monitoring showed no dangerous waves had formed. The Panama Canal, one of the world's most important shipping routes, continued operating normally. Canal authorities said technical teams inspected locks and other facilities and found no significant damage. Tocumen International Airport briefly halted flights while runways and terminals were checked, then resumed operations the same day.
Major earthquakes are relatively uncommon in Panama compared with more seismically active parts of Central America. Early estimates suggested the economic cost could reach several hundred million dollars or higher, depending on the full scope of repairs needed for homes, public buildings, and utility systems. Residents in the hardest-hit zones described sudden, violent shaking that lasted long enough to cause widespread alarm. Many said the strongest motion felt like the ground was rolling or shifting beneath them.
By Saturday, the focus had moved to aftershock monitoring, detailed structural inspections, and restoring electricity. Officials continued to warn residents to avoid entering damaged buildings until they were cleared by engineers. While the country escaped the catastrophic death toll that can accompany a quake of this magnitude, the event left cracked infrastructure, disrupted services, and a lingering sense of unease across multiple provinces. Recovery work is expected to continue for weeks in the most affected communities as crews repair roads, buildings, and power lines and as residents gradually return to normal routines.