Costa Rica, Panama: Magnitude-5.7 offshore earthquake occurs near shared border at around 14:19 July 22

A magnitude-5.7 offshore earthquake occurred near the coast of Chiriqui Province, Panama, near the border with Costa Rica, at around 14:19 July 22. The epicenter was about 5 km (3 miles) south-southeast of Puerto Armuelles, Chiriqui Province. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 3 km (2 miles), and moderate-to-strong shaking was probably felt in Puerto Armuelles and other areas near the Costa Rica-Panama border, with lighter shaking likely felt elsewhere in southern and central Costa Rica and western Panama. There have been no initial reports of significant damage or casualties; however, damage may be reported in some areas that experienced shaking over the coming hours. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

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.