A massive magnitude 7.7 earthquake has hit Panama, damaging buildings and prompting a wide‑range tsunami warning for neighbouring countries.
About 4.6 million people felt moderate to severe shaking, according to the US Geological Survey, which said the effects were likely widespread.
The quake, which struck just before 15:00 local time, could trigger tsunamis in Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile and Mexico, according to the US Tsunami Warning System.
The epicentre was about 6.2 mi (10 km) from the small town of Pitaloza Arriba in south‑central Panama, followed by a series of shallow aftershocks.
Online footage appears to show collapsed buildings in the towns of Penonomé and Soná, although it has not yet been verified.
Registration at a depth of 12 km means longer surface shaking, but the full extent of damage and casualty figures remain unclear.
Many people were evacuated from buildings in Panama City, 200 km (124 mi) away, according to AFP.
The disaster arrived just three days before Panama’s scheduled national evacuation drill for major earthquakes.
It follows the devastating quakes in Colombia and Venezuela earlier this year.
