Panama hit by 7.7 magnitude quake

Maternity ward evacuated after quake
A maternity ward in Panama City was evacuated during the tremors.

A massive 7.7‑magnitude earthquake struck Panama before 15:00 local time, shaking an estimated 4.6 million people and leaving buildings damaged.

The quake occurred about 12 km deep with its epicentre just 6.2 mi (10 km) from the small town of Pitaloza Arriba in south‑central Panama. A series of shallow aftershocks has followed.

Stunning footage on social media shows collapsed structures in the towns of Penonomé and Soná, although these images have not yet been verified by the BBC.

The United States Geological Survey said the effects would be “likely to be widespread”, and the US Tsunami Warning System issued a wide‑area tsunami alert that could affect Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile and Mexico.

Many residents of Panama City, about 124 mi (200 km) away, were evacuated from buildings, according to AFP. The full extent of damage and any casualties remain unclear.

The tremor came just three days before Panama was slated to conduct a national evacuation drill for a major earthquake, adding urgency to emergency response.