Magnitude 7.6 earthquake — Pitaloza Arriba, Panama
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The US Geological Survey has revised its estimate of the Panama earthquake to magnitude 7.6, down from an initial reading of 8.0. The shallow quake struck near Pitaloza Arriba and prompted evacuations in Panama City, while officials assessed damage and monitored tsunami risks across the region.
The earlier account put the quake at magnitude 7.7 and said it struck shortly before 15:00 local time, about 10km from Pitaloza Arriba at a depth of 12km. Around 4.6 million people experienced moderate to severe shaking, and warnings covered neighbouring countries including Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile and Mexico. The full extent of damage and whether there were casualties remained unclear.
- USGS revised the quake estimate to magnitude 7.6.
- The shallow tremor near Pitaloza Arriba prompted evacuations.
- Damage and casualty reports remained unconfirmed.
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Panama is situated in a region of frequent seismic activity, with earthquakes a natural hazard for the country. A magnitude 7.6 earthquake is classified as a major event, capable of causing significant damage to buildings and infrastructure across a wide area.
Pitaloza Arriba is located in Panama's interior, and the earthquake struck at a depth of about 10 kilometres, meaning the energy was released relatively close to the surface. The extent of damage to communities depends on factors including how densely populated the area is and the quality of building construction locally.
Earthquakes of this magnitude can trigger secondary hazards such as landslides, and may generate tsunamis if the epicentre is near the coast. The actual impact will depend on the earthquake's specific location and the vulnerability of communities in the affected region.