A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake has struck the Central American nation of Panama, damaging buildings and infrastructure across various parts of the country.

Videos circulating on social media showed structures collapsing in several cities. Panic spread through multiple areas, including the capital, following the quake. However, no casualties have been reported so far.

The earthquake struck shortly before 3:00 PM local time on Friday (around 3:00 AM Saturday, Bangladesh time).

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter was located approximately 10 kilometers from the town of Pitaloza Arriba in south-central Panama, at a shallow depth of just 12 kilometers.

USGS data indicates that around 4.6 million people felt the tremors, with the impact spreading across a broad region. Given the shallow depth of the epicenter, significant concerns about potential damage remain.

Videos shared on social media following the quake show damaged buildings and structures across multiple Panamanian cities, with collapses reported in areas including Penonomé and Sona.

One verified video showed a side wall and a spire of a church in Penonomé collapsing, while another clip depicted a local hotel almost completely leveled.

In another video, a person could be seen shouting out of fear that someone might be trapped beneath the rubble of a collapsed building, though it remains unconfirmed whether anyone was caught inside.

Concerns persist over whether residents are trapped within damaged structures.

The total number of damaged buildings nationwide and the extent of financial losses are not immediately clear, highlighting the urgent need for damage assessment across affected areas.

Ricardo Brown, a resident of Las Minas in Panama's southern Herrera province, told Reuters that several of his neighbors' homes were damaged.

Cracks appeared in many houses, triggering widespread fear among residents.

"We are terrified. We are two elderly people living here. Cracks have appeared in our house, and we fear it might collapse on us," said 74-year-old Brown.

Meanwhile, in the capital city of Panama City—located nearly 200 kilometers from the epicenter—strong tremors were felt, prompting the evacuation of numerous buildings.

After the shaking stopped, many people chose to stay in the streets and nearby parks rather than return inside.

Reports of power outages and suspended flights also surfaced following the quake, though detailed information regarding the extent of the blackout and the duration of flight disruptions could not be immediately confirmed.
Source: BBC