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PANAMA CITY: A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck southern Panama on Friday, damaging homes, cutting power, halting flights and sending residents into the streets, while triggering more than a dozen aftershocks.
The US Geological Survey said the earthquake struck at a depth of 12.6 km (7.8 miles) and that some casualties were possible.
Television images showed elderly residents in tears in the streets as a series of weaker aftershocks rattled the country.
USGS estimated economic losses could amount to 1 percent to 10 percent of Panama’s gross domestic product.
However, the Panama Canal, about 126 miles (203 km) from the epicenter, was operating normally.
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