A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck off the southern coast of Panama this past Friday, triggering significant concern across the region. While the U.S. Geological Survey initially estimated the quake at 8.0, they later downgraded the intensity, pinpointing the epicenter near Pitaloza Arriba at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. The tremor was felt as far as Panama City and San José, Costa Rica, causing residents to evacuate buildings in anticipation of potential aftershocks.

In response to the seismic event, officials implemented immediate safety precautions, including the temporary closure of a local airport. The earthquake also resulted in widespread power outages affecting six provinces, according to the energy company Naturgy. Furthermore, the U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued urgent alerts regarding the possibility of dangerous waves along the Pacific coastlines of Central America, Colombia, and Ecuador. Although the situation remains fluid, there have been no immediate reports of structural damage or casualties in Panama.