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7.7-Magnitude Panama Earthquake Sets Off Series of Aftershocks
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.7 struck Panama on October 9, centered about nine miles southwest of Pitaloza Arriba in the southern Azuero Peninsula region.
- The quake caused structural collapses, including the El Sitio Hotel in the town of El Venao, and was strongly felt in Panama City and as far away as Costa Rica.
- Several strong aftershocks followed, notably a 6.9 magnitude tremor at 4:25 p.m., which geologists identified as the primary ongoing risk to the region.
- Despite the quake's strength, the U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported no immediate tsunami threat to the area.
- The affected Azuero Peninsula is a remote but popular tourist destination known for its wildlife and beaches, with visible damage to roads and infrastructure reported.
