Panama Earthquake: 80 Aftershocks Recorded As Residents Flee Buildings And Airport Shuts Down

At least 27 people have been injured after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Panama, damaging buildings and roads, disrupting transport services and forcing residents to evacuate their homes and offices.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the earthquake struck on Friday, triggering widespread panic across the Central American country, which has a population of approximately 4.5 million people. No deaths had been reported as of the time of filing this report.

Panama’s President, José Raúl Mulino, described the incident as a major disaster, noting that some roads had collapsed and several communities were experiencing serious disruption.

“We are facing a major disaster,” the president said.

The National Civil Protection System confirmed that the tremor was felt across the country, while emergency operations chief René García told AFP that authorities had not received reports of fatalities.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake struck at 12:56 p.m. local time, with its epicentre located approximately 10 kilometres from Pitaloza Arriba, a small town in Herrera province. The agency initially estimated the magnitude at 8.0 before revising it to 7.7.

The tremor was also felt in Panama City, the country’s capital, located about 200 kilometres from the epicentre. Residents rushed out of high-rise buildings as structures shook during the earthquake.

A 46-year-old resident, Salomon Andion, told journalists that he had to evacuate his 15-storey building after experiencing the tremor and subsequent aftershocks.

“I was scared because the shaking was very strong and prolonged,” he said, adding that furniture and household items, including beds, dressers and kitchen equipment, shook violently.

Videos circulating on social media showed water spilling from a rooftop swimming pool atop a building more than 20 storeys high. Another video appeared to show a bridge over the Panama Canal shaking as vehicles continued moving across it.

In Penonome, a town in Coclé province, residents also reported frightening experiences during the earthquake. Juana Alveo, a 38-year-old shop cashier, said her daughter was trapped at school when the tremor struck.

“It was horrible, like nothing we ever experienced. My daughter was trapped in school,” she said.

Authorities identified Herrera, Coclé and Los Santos as the provinces most affected by the disaster. Health Minister Fernando Boyd said Tonosí, a town in Los Santos province, had become inaccessible by road because of extensive damage.

“We are trying to figure out how to get there by air, because it’s impossible by land,” Boyd said.

President Mulino travelled to Penonome to coordinate emergency operations and assess the destruction. Local media reports also showed significant damage to a church and a hotel in the town.

Former President Ricardo Martinelli shared photographs on Instagram showing damage to his house in Soná, Veraguas province, after the structure collapsed.

Benjamin Gonzalez, a 52-year-old resident living near La Miel, told AFP that he returned home after the earthquake and discovered that several houses had been badly damaged. He said residents gathered in the town square after electricity was cut off, with many remaining frightened by the incident.

Another resident, David Castillo, said people were reluctant to return to their homes because they feared another earthquake could occur.

Panama’s geosciences institute reportedly recorded more than 80 aftershocks following the main earthquake, including one with a magnitude exceeding 6.0. Authorities also issued a tsunami warning for the eastern Pacific Ocean, although the alert was later lifted.

The country’s education ministry suspended classes in schools nationwide while officials assessed the damage and took measures to protect students and other residents.

Panama City’s international airport was temporarily closed as a precaution, prompting several flights to be diverted to other airports, according to the Civil Aeronautics Authority.

However, the Panama Canal Authority confirmed that shipping operations through the strategic waterway, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, continued normally despite the earthquake.

The United States said it was monitoring developments and preparing to provide assistance at the request of the Panamanian government. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on X that he was closely following the situation and that his office was mobilising resources and personnel to support the response.

The leaders of Colombia, Ecuador and Guatemala also expressed solidarity with Panama and offered assistance.

President Mulino urged residents to remain calm as emergency teams continued assessing the damage and working to reach isolated communities. He also warned against spreading panic and disorder, saying he had requested a comprehensive report on the scale of the destruction.