A 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck 10 km west-southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, Panama, on Friday, prompting the U.S. Tsunami Warning System to issue a tsunami threat for coastal areas across nine countries.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) initially reported the quake as a 7.7 magnitude, but later revised it to 7.6. A second 5.5-magnitude aftershock occurred 46 minutes later, according to the USGS. The seismic activity was felt in Panama City and San José, Costa Rica, though no immediate damage reports have been confirmed.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) in Honolulu issued an alert stating that hazardous waves were possible along parts of Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico. Authorities urged residents in threatened coastal areas to stay alert and follow official instructions.
Immediate Response & Evacuations
Footage from Panama City’s San Miguelito Metro station, approximately 215 km from the epicenter, showed evacuations and panic as the ground shook. Television broadcasts captured similar scenes in San José, Costa Rica, where tremors were also felt. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that a tsunami consists of a series of waves, with wave crests potentially arriving between five minutes and an hour apart, and hazards persisting for many hours or longer.
Seismic Details & Aftershocks
The USGS reported the earthquake’s depth at 10 km, classifying it as a shallow quake, which typically has a higher potential for surface impact. The PTWC emphasized that tsunami threats can evolve rapidly, depending on underwater topography and aftershock activity. As of the latest updates, no tsunami waves had been observed, but monitoring continued.
Government & International Coordination
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System and PTWC coordinated alerts with local authorities in the affected nations. The USGS noted that aftershocks are common following major earthquakes, increasing the risk of secondary hazards. Officials in Panama and Costa Rica activated emergency protocols, including evacuation drills and public advisories.
Background: Regional Seismic Activity
The region, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences frequent seismic activity due to the movement of tectonic plates. While major earthquakes are relatively rare in this specific area, the Cocos Plate’s subduction zone off Central America’s Pacific coast remains a known seismic hotspot. The USGS maintains a real-time monitoring system to track such events and issue timely warnings.