Overview
- A shallow magnitude 7.6–7.7 quake hit near Pitaloza Arriba on Friday, producing strong shaking felt in Panama City and in parts of neighboring countries.
- The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued alerts for Panama and multiple Pacific‑coast nations with hazardous waves possible, and some advisories were later updated or lifted after sea‑level monitoring.
- Reports and video showed structural damage concentrated in central provinces including Penonomé, Herrera and Los Santos, with collapsed building sections, cracked roads and towns temporarily cut off.
- Authorities recorded dozens to more than 80 aftershocks, including several above magnitude 5 and at least one above magnitude 6, and the president declared a national “major disaster” to mobilize response teams.
- The Panama Canal Authority said operations continued normally while technical inspections proceed, a key detail for global trade if inspections find damage that forces service limits or delays.