KRALENDIJK – A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 struck Panama on Friday. The quake occurred off the south coast of the country and was also felt in the capital, Panama City. Following the earthquake, a warning was issued for possible tsunami effects along parts of the Pacific coast of Central and South America.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) initially registered the earthquake with a magnitude of 8.0, but later revised the figure. The agency located the epicenter near Pitaloza Arriba, in southern Panama, at a depth of approximately ten kilometers. The Panamanian Instituto de Geociencias reported a lower measurement of 7.2.
In Panama City, residents felt buildings sway and people left buildings as a precaution. According to the news agency Associated Press, damage was also reported in the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos. Emergency services are assessing the effects of the earthquake. Aftershocks were also recorded.
Tsunami warning
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned of possible tsunami effects along parts of the Pacific coast. The initial reports named Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Guatemala, among others. The warning does not mean a tsunami will actually occur, but that potentially dangerous sea level changes and currents may arise.
Is Bonaire at risk?
Bonaire lies in the Caribbean Sea, on the other side of Panama. The international warning applies to coastal areas along the Pacific Ocean. Bonaire is not included in the published list of areas for which the tsunami warning center has identified a possible threat.
That does not automatically mean that every risk to Bonaire has been ruled out. For the current situation on the island, the official warnings from local authorities are leading. Residents can consult the crisis website of the Public Entity of Bonaire at www.bonairecrisis.com.
