In Panama, buildings and roads collapsed after a series of powerful earthquakes. Video

In Panama, buildings and roads collapsed after a series of strong earthquakes. Video

Two powerful earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 6.6 occurred in southern Panama, followed by dozens of aftershocks. The tremors damaged buildings and roads, several people were injured, and authorities temporarily evacuated residents from a number of areas.

According to authorities as of Friday evening, October 9, there were no fatalities. The first earthquake occurred approximately 10 kilometers southwest of the settlement of Pitalosa Arriba in the Herrera province. The epicenter was at a depth of about 10 kilometers. Tremors were felt, among other places, in the capital, Panama City, and neighboring Colombia.

As reported by the Associated Press, citing local authorities, seismologists at the University of Panama recorded more than 45 aftershocks. Some of them reached magnitudes of 5.8, 5.5, and 5.2.

The most severe destruction was noted in the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera, and Los Santos. In the city of Penonomé, a building partially collapsed, and one person was injured by falling debris. Damage was also identified in the governor's administration building, the Dos Continentes hotel, and a local cathedral, where a bell tower partially collapsed. In Los Santos province, according to local media reports, the historic San Atanasio church collapsed. Deep cracks appeared on some roads.

No serious damage was registered in the capital. Tocumen International Airport temporarily suspended operations after the first earthquake, but later resumed flight services. The Panama Canal continued to operate normally.

Following the tremors, authorities issued tsunami warnings for the coasts of Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala, as well as Easter Island, which belongs to Chile. The warnings were later canceled. According to experts from the University of Panama, waves ranging from one to three meters high could have occurred near Isla Cañas and on the southern coast of Los Santos province. It was reported that seawater had already reached some homes on the coast of Isla Cañas.

The President of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, urged residents to remain calm and warned that the assessment of the consequences might change as new data comes in. The United States and a number of Latin American countries stated their readiness to provide assistance.

Panama is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone of high seismic and volcanic activity. Strong earthquakes here are associated with the interaction of several tectonic plates.

, in August, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 occurred in the Tokyo area, resulting in 37 people injured, one of them severely. The tremors damaged infrastructure and disrupted train traffic.