Panama City, Panama (ANI): A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Panama in the early hours of Tuesday, October 13, according to India’s National Centre for Seismology (NCS), following a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake that shook the country on October 9 and triggered tsunami warnings across nine countries in Central and South America.
In a post on X, the NCS reported that the latest earthquake occurred at 4:50 a.m. IST on Tuesday at a depth of 10 kilometres. The epicentre was located at latitude 7.683 degrees north and longitude 81.405 degrees west.
Panama had experienced a major earthquake late Friday night, prompting warnings about possible aftershocks and potential tsunami threats along the Pacific coastlines of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Peru, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, Colombia and Ecuador.
The U.S. Embassy in Panama warned residents that damaging aftershocks could occur following the initial tremor. It advised people in affected areas to stay away from damaged structures, monitor official emergency broadcasts and follow instructions issued by local authorities. Those near the coast were urged to move to higher ground if instructed and remain alert to possible power and communication outages.
According to René García, director of Panama’s Emergency Operations Centre, the magnitude 7.7 earthquake was followed by 147 aftershocks, some registering magnitudes of 6.1 and 6.6, CNN reported.
The powerful earthquake caused damage to homes, schools, health facilities, roads and public buildings in several parts of Panama. The country’s civil protection authorities reported structural damage to homes, hotels, businesses, churches and government buildings. The most significant damage was reported in Coclé province along the southern coast, while some damage was also recorded in Panama City.
Several people reportedly sustained minor injuries. No fatalities or missing persons had been reported at the time of the initial assessments, according to CNN.
The earthquake also disrupted public services. Panama temporarily suspended operations on two metro lines, while the country’s main international airport was closed as a precaution before reopening later in the day, CNN reported, citing the civil aviation authority.
President José Raúl Mulino called for calm, mobilised government resources and visited an affected hospital in Penonomé, where patients were evacuated and treated outdoors.
Panama declared a state of emergency on Saturday to coordinate relief operations and assist affected communities, Xinhua reported. Presidency Minister Juan Carlos Orillac said the declaration would ensure that government agencies remained on standby and had the resources necessary to respond to the needs of affected residents.
President Mulino also ordered the formation of a commission to coordinate relief operations, manage resources and address the needs of affected communities. The government established donation collection centres, including one at Omar Park in Panama City, with provincial government offices serving as additional collection points.
Meanwhile, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed solidarity with Panama’s government and people following the October 9 earthquake.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said India stood with Panama and extended thoughts and prayers to those injured and affected, particularly families facing loss and hardship. India’s Ministry of External Affairs also conveyed its solidarity with the country.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System had initially warned of potential tsunami waves along some coastlines following the powerful earthquake but subsequently indicated that the tsunami threat had ended, CNN reported.
Authorities continued to monitor seismic activity and urged residents to follow official safety advisories as Panama responded to the earthquake’s aftermath. (ANI)
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