A massive magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama on [date], causing significant damage to buildings and prompting a tsunami warning for neighboring countries. Approximately 4.6 million people experienced moderate to severe shaking, according to the US Geological Survey, which indicated that the effects of the disaster were likely to be widespread.

Details of the Earthquake

The quake occurred just before 15:00 local time (18:00 GMT), with its epicenter located about 6.2 miles (10 km) from the small town of Pitaloza Arriba in south-central Panama. The earthquake was registered at a shallow depth of just 12 km, which increases the likelihood of severe surface effects. Following the initial tremor, a series of shallow aftershocks were reported.