Central America: Magnitude-6.9 offhore earthquake strikes off the south coast of Panama at around 06:57 Oct. 20

Event

A magnitude-6.9 offhsore earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean south of Panama at around 06:57 Oct. 20. The epicenter was about 56 km (35 miles) south-southwest of Boca Chica, Panama. The Pacific Tsunami warning center has issued a tsunami threat message stating tsunami waves are possible within 300 km (186 miles) of the epicenter.

This is a developing situation; additional information will be issued as warranted.

Advice

Move away from the immediate coastline; tsunamis can be long-duration events, and the threat may persist for hours.

Vacate multistoried buildings or unreinforced structures in areas where strong shaking occurred; aftershocks could cause additional damage. Cellular networks may be overwhelmed; use text messaging if services are available. Due to the threat of landslides, seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected area.