Panama City. On Friday morning, a very powerful earthquake of 7.6 magnitude occurred in the Central American country of Panama, causing panic in the surrounding areas including the capital. Due to the strong tremors of the earthquake, multi-storey buildings started shaking and people came out on the streets to save their lives.
The epicenter of the earthquake was near Pitalosa Arriba.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake’s epicenter was recorded at a depth of 10 kilometers, about 10 kilometers southwest of Pitalosa Arriba, near the southern tip of Panama. The intensity of the tremors was so high that its impact was felt even in neighboring Colombia.
Chaos in the capital, fear increased due to aftershock
Due to the shaking of tall buildings in the capital Panama City, panicked people immediately came out of their homes and offices and stood on the streets for hours. Several aftershocks were also felt after the main earthquake, whose magnitude was recorded up to 5.0. Due to the repeated aftershocks, there is an atmosphere of fear among the people and many people are reluctant to return to their homes.
Relief work continues, damage assessment begins
Although there has been no official confirmation of any loss of life at the initial stage, several houses and buildings are reported to have been damaged. The work of removing debris has been started in the affected areas. The Panamanian government has issued a statement saying that the situation is being closely monitored and relief and rescue teams are working diligently.
