The consequences of a powerful earthquake in Panama. Video

Panama's National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) has reported damage to homes and public institutions as a result of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Panama, Panama's Telemetro newspaper writes.

SINAPROC has published its first report on the impact of the earthquake. The document says damage to residential buildings, government buildings, schools, hospitals, businesses and roads in several provinces.

An earthquake of magnitude 7.6 occurred in Panama, said the US Geological Survey (USGS). Tremors recorded on Friday at 17:56 GMT (20:56 GMT). The epicenter was located 10 km south-west of the village of Pitalosa Arriba. The hearth lay at a depth of 33 km.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) has warned of the possibility of dangerous tsunami waves up to 3 m high on the coasts of Panama, as well as in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and other Central American and Pacific countries.

As a result of the earthquake, one of the towers of the San Juan Bautista Cathedral in Penonoma in the Panamanian province of Cocle collapsed, El Tiempo reported. According to the publication, in addition to the cathedral, several more buildings in Penonoma were also damaged.

The Russian Union of Travel Industry reported the absence of injured Russians in the earthquake in Panama.