TONOSÍ DISTRICT, Los Santos Province — A 6.0 magnitude quake rocked close to La Tronosa on Saturday night, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
At 04:14 UTC (23:14 local time), a tremor slammed the region at a depth of 10 km, with its epicenter about 7 km north of La Tronosa.
Did you feel it?
Those who felt the earthquake are encouraged to report it via the USGS Felt Report form. The agency has received 42 responses on its online form so far, from people reporting they felt light shaking. According to the USGS DYFI report, residents in cities such as San Miguelito, Panamá, Nuevo Guararé and Bejuco reported experiencing the quake.
Impact and estimated losses
Yellow alert for economic losses. Some damage is possible and the impact should be relatively localized. Estimated economic losses are less than 1% of GDP of Panama. Past events with this alert level have required a local or regional level response Green alert for shaking-related fatalities. There is a low likelihood of casualties. Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides and liquefaction that might have contributed to losses.
Structure information summary
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are a mix of vulnerable and earthquake resistant construction. The predominant vulnerable building types are unreinforced brick masonry and adobe block construction.
Tremors past week
21 quakes of magnitude 2.5 or above were reported in the area last week, three of them larger than magnitude 5.5. The largest, measuring 7.7, shook close to Pitaloza Arriba on Oct. 9.
Last week’s five largest nearby earthquakes:
• 7.7, west-southwest of Pitaloza Arriba on Oct. 9
• 5.8, south of El Cacao on Oct. 9
• 5.5, southwest of Bajo Corral on Oct. 9
• 5.4, south-southeast of Los Asientos on Oct. 9
• 5.1, north-northeast of Tonosí on Oct. 10
Area struck by 7.6 quake in 1991
The area has experienced significant seismic activity in the past. On Apr. 22, 1991, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck south of Limón in Limón, at a depth of 6.2 miles.
Source: The U.S. Geological Survey