"An awful experience." This is how a Cuban described their experience in Panama when a powerful earthquake shook the country on Friday, October 9. A video shared on Facebook captures the atmosphere on a street following the seismic event.
In the approximately 44-second recording, many people can be seen outside the buildings, some gathered on the sidewalks and others standing in the middle of the street, while cars and other vehicles move among the pedestrians. Several individuals are either talking or looking towards the buildings and the traffic, creating a scene of shared unease after the tremor.
The images focus on what happened in the street, rather than the exact moment when the tremor occurred. They also do not alone confirm structural damage or definitively identify the location where the recording took place. Their value lies in showcasing the reactions of those who were present at the scene.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake shook Panama
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) rates the main earthquake at a magnitude of 7.7. It occurred at 12:56 a.m. Panama time, with its epicenter approximately 12 kilometers west-southwest of Pitaloza Arriba and a depth of 12.6 kilometers.
The tremor was felt in various regions of the country, prompting many people to evacuate buildings and seek open spaces. Later, more aftershocks were recorded: USGS data includes quakes of magnitudes 5.5 and 5.8 during that same afternoon.
The magnitude of the earthquake was adjusted as agencies analyzed new records. CiberCuba initially reported the tremor when the USGS estimated it at 7.6; the report consulted for this update lists it as 7.7.
The initial tsunami warning has been lifted
After the earthquake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), part of NOAA, assessed a possible threat to areas along the Pacific coast. However, in a subsequent bulletin on October 9, it was indicated that there was no longer a warning or tsunami threat in effect for that event.
The video from the Cuban witness adds to the images and accounts shared on social media regarding the emotional impact of the earthquake. Although the recording does not measure the intensity of the tremor, it does depict people who remained in the streets after a day filled with shock.
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