Panama rocked by 2 powerful earthquakes, multiple aftershocks
The 7.7 and 6.6 magnitude tremors caused buildings to collapse and prompted evacuations across the country
Two powerful 7.7 and 6.6 magnitude earthquakes and a series of aftershocks struck Panama on Friday afternoon, collapsing buildings near the epicentre and prompting evacuations across the country, the US Geological Survey said.
The earlier quake, felt as far away as neighbouring Colombia, was centred about 10km (six miles) southwest of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba, in the central province of Herrera, the USGS said. It struck at a depth of 10km.
The USGS initially reported the first quake as magnitude 8, then revised it to 7.6 and later to 7.7.
Visibly shaken residents of Panama City gathered outside as they waited for news of the quake’s impact on Friday.
