Panama 7.6 Magnitude Earthquake Triggers Tsunami Warnings Across Region

Panama 7.6 Magnitude Earthquake Triggers Tsunami Warnings Across Region

A powerful earthquake shook the southern coast of Panama on Friday, setting off widespread tsunami alerts across multiple countries and prompting mass building evacuations in major cities. The tremor struck at a depth of 10 km near Pitaloza Arriba, according to the US Geological Survey, which recorded the initial shock at 7.6 magnitude after first estimating the tremor at magnitude 8.0.

Panamanian authorities reported no immediate casualties or major structural damage in the initial aftermath, though television footage showed residents evacuating high-rise office blocks, schools, and homes to gather in open spaces.

Seismic Tracking and Competing Measurements

The exact timing and parameters of the seismic event drew varying technical assessments from international and domestic scientific bodies. The US Geological Survey placed the epicenter about 14km (9 miles) south-west of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba along the southern tip of the country. Meanwhile, the Institute of Geosciences of the University of Panama reported that the main quake struck at just before 1pm local time near the southern town of Tonosí. The Panamanian institute added that a second 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck soon after, at 1.22pm.

Seismologist Jeffrey Park spoke on CNN regarding the initial metrics, noting that the size and location served as a red flag for a tsunami warning. Park further explained, If we’re not sure exactly what its earthquake source mechanism, what it’s faulting is like, but it has the possibility of leading to severe tsunami damage along the southern coastline of Panama. The National Weather Service posted an alert on X stating that a massive earthquake in Panama could generate “destructive” tsunamis along the West Coast of the United States on Friday.

International Tsunami Alerts and Regional Repercussions

Following the shock, the US Tsunami Warning System issued alerts for potential hazardous tsunami waves within three hours along the Pacific coastlines of Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico. Reporting organizations noted that nine countries were directly warned over coastal tsunami waves, alongside separate threat advisories issued for Hawaii. Additionally, Chile’s Navy Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service issued its own national tsunami alert, while the National Weather Service extended its warning to California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska, as well as Canada’s British Columbia.

The shaking extended far beyond the immediate coastal zone, with tremors felt strongly in Panama City and in San José, the capital of neighboring Costa Rica. Witnesses who spoke to Reuters described buildings shaking in the capital, while The Associated Press reported that buildings shook and visibly shaken residents gathered outside as they waited for news of the quake’s impact. Local newspaper La Prensa documented widespread evacuations of buildings, schools, and homes across the Central American country as a result of the powerful movement of the earth.

Comparative Regional Monitoring Data