A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama on Friday, with shaking reportedly felt across the country after a major tremor was recorded near Pitaloza Arriba, according to USGS.
The USGS initially reported a magnitude 8.0 earthquake near Pitaloza Arriba, Panama, but later lowered it to 7.7. The quake struck at a depth of about 33 kilometers (20 miles) around 12:56 p.m. local time Friday.
Panama’s University of Panama Geosciences Institute reported a magnitude of 7.6 for the same earthquake, with a depth of about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles). The institute located the epicenter about 39 kilometers (24 miles) northwest of Tonosí.
One early report said the shaking was felt in Panama City, the country’s capital. Official information about possible damage, injuries or other effects was not immediately available.
The powerful tremor comes after other major earthquakes struck parts of northern South America this year. On June 24, two earthquakes measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela, according to the Pan American Health Organization.
On Aug. 10, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, becoming one of the strongest earthquakes recorded in the country in recent decades. The shaking was felt across parts of Colombia and neighboring areas.