Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Damages Buildings in Central Panama

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck southern Panama on Friday, Oct. 9, damaging buildings in several central provinces and shaking structures more than 100 miles away in the capital.

The quake briefly triggered tsunami alerts for several countries along the Pacific coast of Central and South America, though warning officials later said the threat had passed.

The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported a magnitude 8.0, then revised it to 7.6 before settling on 7.7. Panama’s own geological institute measured the quake at magnitude 7.2.

Where the Earthquake Struck

The earthquake struck shortly before 1 p.m. local time, according to the Panamanian president’s office.