Earthquake of magnitude 7.7 and 6.6 shook Panama, collapsed buildings, cracked roads

The Central American country of Panama was rocked by powerful earthquakes on Friday. Two earthquakes of magnitude 7.7 and 6.6, which came shortly apart, caused panic in many parts of the country. Dozens of aftershocks were felt continuously after the quake, causing panic among the people. Several buildings were damaged, roads were cracked and thousands of people came out of their homes as a precaution. Authorities have started work to assess the relief and damage. An earthquake of magnitude 7.7 shook Panama, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, the first and most powerful earthquake struck in the southwest of the Pitalosa Arriba community in Panama's Herrera province. The depth of the earthquake was reported to be about 10 kilometers. Its magnitude was initially measured at 8.0, which was later revised to 7.7. Shortly thereafter, another major earthquake of magnitude 6.6 occurred, causing more panic among the already frightened people. The tremors were felt as far away as the neighboring country of Colombia. Fear in the capital Panama City After the quake, people in the capital Panama City came out of their homes and offices. In many places, people were seen gathering in open fields and streets, waiting for the situation to return to normal. Rosendo Dominguez, a resident of the province of Herrera, said the tremors were so intense that even the utensils kept in the kitchen fell off. He said people were very scared and came out of their homes in large numbers. Aftershocks continued After the major earthquakes, aftershocks continued throughout the region. Many of the tremors were recorded with magnitudes of 5.8, 5.5 and 5.2. According to seismologists at the University of Panama, more than 45 aftershocks were recorded, although many of them were so mild that they were not felt by the general public. Damage to several buildings According to officials of the National Civil Security Service, the worst damage was reported in the provinces of Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos. One person was injured when debris fell from a partially damaged building in the city of Panama. The cathedral in the city's main square was also reported to have cracks and partial damage. According to local media reports, part of the famous colonial-style Church of San Atanacio in the province of Los Santos collapsed. The church was declared a National Heritage Site in 1938. In addition, there are reports of deep cracks on several roads, affecting traffic. No deaths confirmed Panamanian President José Raul Mulino said no deaths had been confirmed as of late Friday evening. However, he warned that the situation could change in the coming hours and days. Appealing to citizens to remain calm, he said it was not possible for anyone to be fully prepared for such a natural disaster.