6.0 Earthquake Strikes Panama as Aftershock Swarm Follows Morning's 7.7

Developing story. Updated 04:49 UTC.

PANAMA CITY, Panama. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck near La Tronosa, Panama, late Friday night, the latest jolt in a violent seismic sequence that rattled the country all day, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The tremor hit at 11:14 p.m. local time, centered 7 kilometers north of La Tronosa at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the USGS. The agency lists the event as reviewed. La Tronosa sits in Herrera province, in the same central region that took the brunt of the day's earlier shocks.

The sequence began Friday morning with a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake centered about 10 kilometers southwest of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba, also in Herrera. The USGS first reported that quake as magnitude 8.0, then revised it to 7.6 and later to 7.7. It was felt strongly in Panama City and as far away as neighboring Colombia.

Buildings collapsed near the epicenter, and authorities ordered evacuations across the country. A second large tremor, reported by the USGS as magnitude 6.6, struck Friday afternoon, followed by aftershocks measuring 5.8, 5.5 and 5.2. Seismologists at the University of Panama recorded more than 45 aftershocks, though many were too weak to feel.

Injuries and damage

Omar Smith of the National Civil Protection Service said the damage was concentrated in the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos. He reported no damage in the capital, a city of hundreds of skyscrapers. Several injuries were reported, including one person struck by debris from a partially collapsed structure in Penonomé, about 150 kilometers from the capital.

Smith confirmed a partial collapse and cracks at the cathedral in Penonomé's main square, along with damage to the governor's office building and the Dos Continentes hotel. No casualties were immediately reported.

Local outlets reported that the Church of San Atanasio, a colonial-style Catholic church in Los Santos province declared a National Historic Heritage Site in 1938, had collapsed. In Veraguas province, large fissures ran along roadways.

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino called for calm on Friday. Visibly shaken residents of Panama City gathered outside buildings as they waited for news of the quake's impact. "We felt it very strongly. It knocked things over in the kitchen, but we're okay, though we're very scared," Rosendo Domínguez, 60, of Herrera province, told The Associated Press by phone.

Tsunami alerts and response

The U.S. National Weather Service issued a tsunami warning Friday for the coasts of Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Guatemala, warning that waves of 1 to 3 meters could strike some coastal areas of Panama. Alerts were also issued for El Salvador and as far away as Chile's Easter Island. Weather.com later reported the threat had passed.

Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, one of the region's busiest airports, temporarily suspended operations and activated its evacuation plan. The Panama Canal Authority said operations along the key global trade route were continuing normally, with specialized teams inspecting facilities for damage.

Nearby countries sent messages of support Friday afternoon. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella wrote that Panama was not alone and pledged assistance. The U.S. Embassy in Panama said it was closely monitoring the aftermath and accounting for the welfare of its citizens.

This is a developing story. Details may change as authorities release new information.