Panama: Magnitude-6.1 offshore earthquake occurs south of Panama at around 15:56 July 17

Event

A magnitude-6.1 offshore earthquake occurred south of Chiriqui province in western Panama at around 15:56 July 17. The epicenter was about 130 km (81 miles) south of Punta de Burica. The tremor occurred at a depth of approximately 9 km (6 miles), and light shaking was reported throughout Panama, as well as much of southern Costa Rica. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are possible over the coming days.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Consider vacating multistory buildings if operating in areas where shaking occurred until authorities confirm their structural integrity.