Earthquake leaves at least 2 injured in Panama, causes several buildings to collapse

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Panama on Friday and left at least two people injured after several buildings collapsed in the central part of the country and caused panic in the capital, which is lined with skyscrapers.

"It was horrible, something we had never experienced before. My daughter was trapped at school. Thank God we're okay," Juana Alveo, 38, who works as a cashier at a store in Penonomé, 150 kilometers southwest of Panama City, told AFP.

The earthquake struck around 1:00 p.m. (local time) and had its epicenter 10 kilometers from Pitaloza Arriba, in the province of Herrera, in the south-central region of the country, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The most severe damage was reported in the provinces of Los Santos, Herrera, Veraguas and Coclé.

The head of the Emergency Operations Center, René García, told AFP that "so far" there have been no "fatalities."

According to him, two people were injured after being trapped in collapsed structures near the church in Soná, Veraguas, and in Coclé, where a hotel collapsed without causing any injuries.

"The disaster we are facing is of massive proportions," said President José Raúl Mulino upon arriving in one of the affected areas. Some roads are "completely collapsed," he added.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reported on X that his department "is rapidly mobilizing resources and personnel to provide assistance."

'I'm in shock'

Authorities at the Panama Canal announced that the waterway, through which 5% of international maritime trade passes, is operating "normally."

Tocumen Airport, one of Latin America's main air hubs, temporarily closed, and several flights were diverted.

Tonosí, a town of about 9,000 residents located about 360 kilometers from Panama City, is one of the hardest-hit areas. Located in Los Santos, its homes are primarily single-story.

Health Minister Fernando Boyd reported that the town had been cut off by land.

"Right now, I'm in shock and haven't been able to get in touch with my family," Luis Poveda, a factory worker from Santiago de Veraguas, told AFP.

Ariel Apolayo, a 46-year-old educator, described the earthquake as "madness." "We thought it was mild, but then it felt stronger and stronger and stronger. The cars were shaking."

"We all ran out of the building; the power lines were swaying, and all the staff went outside," Arnulfo Santos, another employee at a flour-milling company in Santiago, told AFP.

Panic in the skyscrapers

The earthquake, which lasted about a minute, shook Panama City, where thousands of people fled the buildings in fear, according to AFP.

"I was scared because the tremor was very strong and lasted a long time. Heavy objects, such as dressers, the bed and everything in the kitchen, shifted, and the animals were very agitated," Salomón Andión, 46, told AFP after evacuating his 15-story building for the second time due to aftershocks.

The USGS revised the earthquake's magnitude to 7.7, following an initial estimate of 8.0 and a second of 7.6.

Earthquakes in the capital are rare. They occur mainly in the western province of Chiriquí, which borders Costa Rica, where the quake was also felt. According to authorities, more than 100 aftershocks have been recorded, including some with a magnitude of 6.0 on the Richter scale.

The presidents of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella; Ecuador, Daniel Noboa; Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo; and other governments expressed their solidarity with Panama and stated their willingness to send aid if necessary.

For its part, the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) donated $250,000 to Panama for "immediate humanitarian assistance" and made available an additional $50 million "through the financing line" for emergencies.