PANAMA: A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6 struck the Gulf of Darien near the border of Panama and Colombia late Wednesday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Tremors were felt in both nations.
The USGS noted a 4.9-magnitude aftershock in the same area nine minutes later.
The earthquake occurred at 8:35:34 IST at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles), as reported by the USGS. The epicenter of the earthquake was located at a latitude of 8.92 and a longitude of -77.11, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS).
NCS tweeted, “Earthquake of Magnitude: 6.7, Occurred on 25-05-2023, 08:35:34 IST, Lat: 8.92 & Long: -77.11, Depth: 10 Km, Location: 264km E of Panama City.”
Meanwhile, the US Tsunami Warning System reported that no tsunami warning had been issued following the earthquake. Additionally, there have been no reports of casualties or damage thus far.
In Panama, the civil protection organization Sinaproc reported that no immediate reports of damage had been received and that they were monitoring the situation.
Local authorities in Medellin, the capital of Colombia, stated that no damages had been reported. Further information is still awaited.
Panama’s civil defense agency stated via Twitter that the quake was felt in the provinces of Panama, Darien, West Panama, and Guna Yala. “There is no report of effects,” it read. Shortly after, it announced that the risk of a tsunami had been ruled out by Panama’s National Emergency Operations Center.
The earthquake was also felt in some areas of Panama’s capital, while others did not experience shaking. In the Colombian cities of Cali and Medellin, residents also reported feeling the tremors.
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