Panama quake damages buildings; tsunami threat later declared passed

What did the tsunami center forecast, and when did it clear the threat?

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center’s initial bulletin identified a potential tsunami threat and forecast waves 1 to 3 meters above tide level along some Panamanian coasts. The bulletin was issued to support the international tsunami warning system; the center said national authorities determine local alert levels.

In its final message, the center said the tsunami threat had passed. It advised normal caution near the sea and said minor sea-level fluctuations could continue near the quake over the following hours.

The earthquake parameters and the tsunami assessment came from different agencies: the USGS lists the quake’s magnitude, depth and location, while the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued the tsunami bulletins. The center’s later message changed the stated threat from potential danger to a threat that had passed, while allowing for minor fluctuations.

What was reported along Panama’s coast?

Néstor Luque, director of the University of Panama’s Geosciences Institute, told the AP that waves of 3 to 10 feet were expected near Isla Cañas and the southern coast of Los Santos province. Luque also said seawater had reached homes near Isla Cañas.

Those reports put coastal residents among the people facing potential impacts, alongside communities where buildings were damaged inland. The warning center’s initial forecast covered some Panamanian coasts; its final bulletin said the threat had passed and recommended normal caution near the sea.

Where was damage reported, and what is known about injuries?

Authorities reported damage concentrated in Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos provinces, including a partial collapse at a cathedral in Penonomé. Omar Smith of the National Civil Protection Service said a person in Penonomé was struck by debris and that no damage had been reported in Panama City, the AP reported.

Euronews, citing AFP, reported at least 27 injuries. On Friday evening, President José Raúl Mulino said authorities had documented no deaths and cautioned that the situation could change.

Earthquakes are common along Panama’s Pacific coast and its border with Costa Rica. Interactions among the Cocos, Nazca and Caribbean plates contribute to seismic activity in the region, the AP reported.

Mulino called for calm. He told CBS News, “Nobody was ready, and no one is ever ready for this type of disaster.”