A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama on Friday afternoon, one of the most powerful in the country’s modern history. It collapsed parts of a cathedral, a hotel and homes, injured at least 27 people and set off more than 140 aftershocks. No deaths had been reported as of the weekend.
The Panama Canal and Tocumen International Airport, the region’s biggest hub, both resumed normal operations after brief disruptions, Latin Times reported.
Where did the Panama earthquake hit?
The quake struck at 12:56 p.m. local time on the Azuero Peninsula, near the rural community of Pitaloza Arriba, at a shallow depth of about 12.6 kilometers, the USGS said. It was felt in Panama City, where residents rushed into the streets, and in parts of Colombia. A tsunami warning for the eastern Pacific was lifted hours later, AFP reported.
How much damage did the Panama earthquake cause?
Injuries were reported in five provinces, most of them, 17, in Coclé. Video from Penonomé showed a cathedral collapsing and a hotel facade falling onto a car. In Tonosí, a hotel and several homes collapsed. Officials tallied damage to at least 142 homes, 188 schools, 20 health facilities, 26 government buildings, 13 churches and nine bridges, along with water treatment plants and roads, according to compiled reports. President José Raúl Mulino visited the hardest-hit areas and urged calm.
Does the Panama earthquake affect Americans?
Thousands of Americans live in Panama, especially retirees in areas like Coronado and Boquete, and the canal handles a large share of U.S. trade. With the canal and main airport back to normal, the immediate impact on travel and shipping appears limited. If you have family there or plans to travel, check the State Department’s Panama advisory and the U.S. Embassy’s alerts, since strong aftershocks, including a 6.6, have followed.
The BeezLoop Take
A 7.7 at a shallow depth can be catastrophic, and the fact that no one is reported dead is remarkable. Part of that is luck: the epicenter was in a rural area, far from Panama City. Part of it is that the canal, airport and emergency services held up.
The damage to schools and clinics is the part that will linger. Rebuilding 188 schools and 20 health facilities in rural provinces will take years, and that’s where help will be needed long after the cameras leave.
The open question: will Panama’s building codes change after a quake this strong hit somewhere scientists didn’t expect?
Sources: Yahoo News (AFP) · Latin Times · Wikipedia (USGS data, damage tallies) · NBC News (video)
