‘It was a terrible thing’: Panama declares state of emergency as quake aftershocks rattle communities

The government of Panama declared a state of emergency on Saturday following two powerful earthquakes that struck the southern region of the country. While the seismic activity caused widespread damage to local communities and ongoing aftershocks, officials have reported no fatalities resulting from the events.

Residents near the epicenter in areas such as Chitré and La Villa de los Santos have begun cleanup efforts. Local reports indicate that the scale of the destruction has overwhelmed some communities, with residents noting that the region was unprepared for an earthquake of this magnitude.