PANAMA DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY FOLLOWING EARTHQUAKE

PANAMA CITY, OCTOBER 11 /SRNA/ – The Panama authorities have declared a state of emergency following a powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale that struck the country on Friday.

"The national government, acting on the instructions of the President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino Quintero, has tasked us with ensuring that all personnel remain active every minute in the affected areas of the country," Juan Carlos Orillac, Panama’s Minister in the Presidency, said at a press conference.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday that the United States was mobilizing resources and personnel to assist Panama.

Material damage caused by the earthquake has been reported in all 10 provinces of Panama, as well as in two Indigenous territories, the Associated Press reported.

Earthquakes measuring 7.7 and 6.6 in magnitude struck on Friday, October 9, and the following day, damaging buildings near the epicentres and prompting evacuations.

Seismologists have recorded more than 100 aftershocks, including those measuring 5.8, 5.5 and 5.2 in magnitude.