Skip to main content Skip to navigation Boats in Panama City, Panama, on Friday. Photograph: Carlos Lemos/EPA View image in fullscreen Boats in Panama City, Panama, on Friday.
Well, folks, it looks like Panama had a bit of an unexpected wake-up call on Friday morning. Yes, you guessed it—a magnitude 7.6 earthquake decided to shake things up, literally! According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), this seismic surprise centered about 10 kilometers (or 6 miles, for those of us who still think in imperial) southwest of the quaint little community known as Pitaloza Arriba, which, by the way, sounds like a delightful place to sip coffee, not to be rocked by Mother Nature’s mood swings.
The earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers, and let’s just say it didn’t take long for the tremors to make their presence known. Buildings in Panama City were shaking like they were at a dance party, and residents quickly evacuated into the streets. Because, you know, nothing says “let’s get out of here” like the ground shaking beneath your feet!
One resident, Rosendo Domínguez, 60, managed to capture the moment perfectly when he said, “We felt it very strongly. It knocked things over in the kitchen, but we’re okay, though we’re very scared.” I mean, who wouldn’t be scared? When your kitchen decides to redecorate itself mid-morning, it can be a little alarming.
Now, if you thought that was the end of the drama, think again! The National Weather Service didn’t just sit on the sidelines; they issued a tsunami warning for the coasts of Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. Talk about a multi-national party! Local media even reported that the quake was felt in parts of neighboring Colombia, because, apparently, earthquakes are the new trend.
In a bid to keep the public informed, Panama’s Civil Protection agency is currently investigating potential damages in the regions closest to the earthquake. They’re probably hoping to find more kitchen disasters and less structural collapse, because let’s face it, no one wants to hear about a building that decided to turn into a pile of rubble.
As the dust settles—figuratively, of course—this is a developing story. So, if you’re in the area, keep your phones charged and your emergency kits handy. And for those of us watching from afar, let’s just be thankful that we don’t have to deal with a surprise earthquake while trying to make our morning coffee.
So there you have it, folks! Panama’s seismic shindig serves as a reminder that nature can throw a curveball at any moment. Stay safe, keep your kitchen items secured, and let’s hope the next surprise is a little less shaky and a lot more celebratory!
Inspired by: “Panama earthquake: A magnitude 7.6 earthquake shakes region, USGS reports” (r/Local)