A powerful shallow earthquake of magnitude 7.7 struck central Panama on Friday, shaking the country for roughly a minute and sending office workers fleeing skyscrapers in Panama City, about 200 kilometres from the epicentre near La Pitaloza in Herrera province.
The quake collapsed some buildings and roads, briefly disrupted operations at Tocumen airport, and interrupted sporting events. President José Raúl Mulino described it as a "major disaster." A Pacific tsunami warning was issued and later lifted, and more than 80 aftershocks rattled the region in the hours that followed.
Remarkably, no deaths or injuries had been confirmed by Saturday. New Zealand's touring Football Ferns, in the country at the time, were confirmed safe. Panama Canal and Cobre Panama operations were reported normal.
Seismologists said the shallow depth of the quake explained why it was felt so strongly across much of the country, and authorities urged residents to remain alert as aftershock activity continues.
