7.6-MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE STRIKES PANAMA, TRIGGERS TSUNAMI WARNINGS

A 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern coast of Panama, triggering tsunami warnings across Central and South America, according to the US Geological Survey. Tremors were felt strongly in the capital, Panama City, and reportedly in the capital of neighbouring Costa Rica, witnesses said. Television footage showed people evacuating buildings in Panama, with residents gathering in the streets, the Associated Press reported. Local newspaper La Prensa said buildings, schools and homes were evacuated across the country. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties in Panama.

The quake's epicentre was located around 14km (9 miles) south-west of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba, the USGS said. The Institute of Geosciences at the University of Panama said the quake struck at just before 1pm local time near the southern town of Tonosí. A second earthquake, measuring magnitude 6.0, struck the same area at 1.22pm local time, according to the institute. Reuters reported that the shaking was strong enough to be felt clearly across Panama City. The Associated Press said visibly shaken residents gathered outside buildings in the capital.

The USGS said hazardous tsunami waves were possible along the coasts of Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico. The US Tsunami Warning System issued a wider alert covering nine countries, adding Panama and Colombia to the list of nations warned of possible coastal waves within three hours of the quake. The warning system also said there was a tsunami threat to Hawaii. No damage or casualties had been confirmed in Panama or any other warned country at the time of reporting. Authorities across the region were continuing to assess the quake's impact.