Panama earthquake prompts tsunami alerts for nine countries

A shallow earthquake struck southern Panama on October 9, prompting tsunami alerts for nine countries as officials began assessing possible damage. The U.S. Geological Survey revised its preliminary magnitude estimate from 8.0 to 7.6; some later reports gave 7.7. The quake was centered about 10 kilometers southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, near Panama’s southern tip, at a depth of roughly 10 kilometers, according to the USGS. Shaking was felt in Panama City, where residents evacuated buildings and gathered outside. Reports also described tremors in neighboring areas, including parts of Colombia and Costa Rica. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System initially warned that potentially hazardous waves could affect coasts in Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico. The alert described possible waves within three hours; it did not establish that a tsunami had occurred. Threat assessments changed as agencies reviewed the event. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later said there was no tsunami threat to Hawaii, while another early report said the potential threat had been narrowed to Panama and Ecuador.