The massive tremor hit the Pacific side of southern Panama shortly before 1 p.m. local time on Friday. The epicenter of the quake was recorded just 12 km west-southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey. In the immediate aftermath, the Panama president's office reported that over a dozen aftershocks have already rattled the region, prompting the government to order the suspension of operations at all administrative offices and schools.
The potential for hazardous tsunami waves presents a significant risk to coastal populations across the Pacific. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued alerts for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Peru, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, Colombia and Ecuador. Officials warned that these dangerous waves could impact these coastlines within a few hours of the primary event, necessitating immediate vigilance from those living or working in low-lying coastal areas.
The U.S. Geological Survey provided the technical data regarding the earthquake's magnitude and exact location. Meanwhile, local authorities continue to monitor the situation as the number of aftershocks grows. The suspension of public services aims to minimize activity while emergency assessments are conducted across the affected regions. Officials are treating the event as a major incident, urging citizens to monitor official channels for updates on the developing tsunami threat and further seismic activity. As a developing story, information regarding the specific impact of the earthquake remains subject to ongoing verification by international and local monitoring agencies.