Magnitude 7.6–7.7 earthquake strikes off Panama coast, prompting regional tsunami alerts
A powerful earthquake of magnitude between 7.6 and 7.7 hit offshore Panama, causing building damage and triggering tsunami warnings for several Central and South American countries, including Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Colombia and Chile. All outlets agree on the quake’s size and the widespread alerts, with minor variation in reported magnitude.
First reported 4 hours ago · latest update 2 hours ago
A massive magnitude 7.7 earthquake has hit Panama, damaging buildings and prompting a wide-ranging tsunami warning for neighbouring countries.
About 4.6 million people felt moderate to severe shaking as a result of the quake, according to the US Geological Survey, which has said that the effects of the disaster were "likely to be widespread".
The quake, which hit just before 15:00 local time (18:00 GMT), could trigger tsunamis in Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile and Mexico, according to the US Tsunami Warning System.
The epicentre of the earthquake was about 6.2 miles (10km) from the small town of Pitaloza Arriba in south-central Panama, with a series of shallow aftershocks following it.
Footage shared online, which has not been verified by the BBC, appears to show collapsed buildings in the towns of Penonomé and Soná.
The quake was registered as occurring at a depth of just 12km. The shallower the earthquake, the more likely it is to have more severe effects on the surface.
However, the full extent of the damage it has caused is not yet clear, nor whether there have been any casualties as a result.
Many people were evacuated from buildings in Panama City, about 200km (124 miles) away, according to new agency AFP.
The earthquake comes just three days before Panama was scheduled to hold a national evacuation drill for dealing with a major earthquake.
It also follows devastating earthquakes in Colombia and Venezuela earlier this year.
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Powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake hits Panama, damaging buildings
Tsunami warnings are issued for neighbouring countries as videos of destruction circulate online.
3 hours agoBreaking: Powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake hits off coast of Panama
The US Tsunami Warning System shows potential tsunami threats across much of Central America's Pacific coast as well as in Colombia and Ecuador after the earthquake.
3 hours agoPowerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake hits Panama and triggers tsunami warnings
Hazardous waves are possible in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and MexicoA powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake has struck Panama and triggered tsunami warnings along the west coast of Central and South America, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).The quake hit along the southern coast of the country, the USGS said. It was centered near the southern tip of the Central American country, about 14km (9 miles) south-west of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba, the USGS said. Continue reading...
4 hours ago · Guardian staff and agenciesTsunami warnings across Latin America after 7.7 magnitude earthquake hits
Countries including Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Chile have received warnings after the quake.
3 hours agoPowerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake hits Panama coast as nine countries issued tsunami warnings
A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake has struck off the coast of Panama.
4 hours ago · Mrinmay Dey and Elida MorenoPanama struck by powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake as nine countries issued tsunami warnings
The quake was centered about 10 kilometers southwest of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba, near Panama’s southern tip, the USGS said
2 hours ago · Mrinmay Dey and Elida Moreno