Colombia Earthquake Rattles Panama City, Triggering Building Evacuations
A strong earthquake in Colombia was felt in Panama City, prompting evacuations from offices and homes as a precaution.
A powerful earthquake that struck Colombia early Monday was also felt across the border in Panama, causing workers and residents in Panama City to evacuate buildings as a safety measure.
At the Labor Ministry, employees gathered outside their office building after the tremors caused furniture to shift on an upper floor. Diego Gallardo, an officer at the ministry, described the moment the quake hit around 7:30 a.m. "There was movement of all the office furniture in the area," he said, noting that staff evacuated in an orderly fashion.
After a short wait, Gallardo used a megaphone to give the all-clear, instructing employees to return to their offices in an orderly manner.
Elsewhere in the city, residents also rushed out of their homes. Ismary Valenti, a resident on a high floor, recounted feeling the initial shaking while sitting at her dining table. "It stopped for a moment, and then the second tremor was a bit stronger," she said. "We were on a high floor, so we ran out."
The earthquake's reach extended beyond the capital, with tremors also reported in the provinces of La Chorrera, Cocle, Penonomé, and Colón. No immediate damage or injuries have been reported in Panama.