A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck near the southern tip of Panama on Friday morning, shaking buildings more than 100 miles away in the capital and prompting evacuations, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A second powerful magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the country later that day after a series of aftershocks. The initial earthquake was centered about 7 miles southwest of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba and occurred at a depth of about 7 miles, the USGS said. The magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurred about two and a half hours later, with its epicenter about 12 kilometers west of Rio Grande, on the Pacific coast of Panama, and at a depth of about 10 kilometers. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said authorities had not documented anyone dead or injured as of Friday night, although he warned that could change in the coming hours or days. “No one was prepared, and no one is ever prepared for this type of disaster,” Mulino said. The possibility of tsunami waves hitting the coast of Panama, but later said the threat had passed. Tremors were felt in Panama City, where buildings shook and people were evacuated to the streets. Visibly shaken residents gathered outside as they waited for news. “We felt it very strongly. Things were knocked over in the kitchen, but we are fine, although we are very afraid,” Rosendo Domínguez, 60, from the province of Herrera, where the earthquake occurred, told The Associated Press by telephone. “Everyone is outside, scared.” A nurse talks on her cell phone outside the maternity ward of the Santo Tomás hospital, following an earthquake that hit Panama, in Panama City on October 9, 2026. Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images Multiple aftershocks continued to shake Panama, including several of magnitude 5.8, 5.5 and 5.2. Seismologists at the University of Panama recorded more than 45 aftershocks, although many were too weak to be felt. Images of collapsing buildings and deep cracks crisscrossing roads have raised fears in a region hit by a series of devastating earthquakes in recent months. Two consecutive earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck the Venezuelan state of La Guaira in June, killing more than 6,500 people and leaving 17,000 homeless. In August, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia killed at least 289 people. Mulino called for calm early Friday, writing on social media: “What happened should not be used to cause alarm or disorder.” Omar Smith, of the National Civil Protection Service, said on the Telemetro Reporta news channel that the damage was concentrated in the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos. He said there were no reports of damage in the capital, known for its hundreds of skyscrapers. This aerial view shows Panama Bay after a severe earthquake hit the country, in Panama City on Oct. 9, 2026. Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images Smith said several injuries have been reported, including one person hit by debris from a partially collapsed structure in the town of Penonomé, about 93 miles from the capital. He confirmed a partial collapse and cracks in the cathedral in the district’s main square, as well as damage to the government building and the Dos Continentes hotel. Local media also reported that the Iglesia de San Atanasio, a colonial-style Catholic church in the Los Santos province of Panama, had collapsed. The church was declared a National Historical Heritage in 1938. In other places, including the province of Veraguas, large fissures ran along the roads. Damage is seen on the wall of a house after an earthquake in Penonomé, Panama, on October 9, 2026. Daniel de Carteret/AFP via Getty Images Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, one of the busiest airports in the region with more than 20 million passengers in 2025, temporarily suspended operations after the first earthquake, but said Friday afternoon that it was reopening. The Panama Canal Authority said operations were continuing normally along the key global trade route. It said its priority was the safety of employees, vessels and crews and that specialized technical teams were inspecting the facilities for possible damage. A car was damaged by falling debris after an earthquake in Panama City, Panama, October 9, 2026. Reuters/Enea Lebrun The last major earthquake to cause widespread damage in Panama occurred in 1991. A magnitude 7.4 earthquake centered in nearby Costa Rica killed 23 people, injured 559 and left thousands homeless in the border region of Bocas del Toro. Earthquakes are common, especially along Panama’s border with Costa Rica and its Pacific Coast, due to the interaction of several tectonic plates, including the Cocos, Nazca and Caribbean plates. Panama lies along the “Ring of Fire,” a 25,000-mile arc of volcanoes and fault lines around the Pacific basin, where most of the world’s earthquakes occur. Nearby countries sent messages of support on Friday afternoon. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella expressed his solidarity with the Panamanian people and their government in what he called “difficult times.” “Panama is not alone! You can count on Colombia’s support and our full willingness to provide any assistance that is necessary,” he wrote on social media. The U.S. Embassy in Panama said it was “closely monitoring” the aftermath of the earthquake and responding to the well-being of its citizens in Panama, a well-known retirement destination for Americans. More from CBS News Go deeper with The Free Press in:
