Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes Panama, triggering tsunami threats across Central and South America A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck near Panama's southern tip on Friday, prompting tsunami threats for nine countries and evacuations in Panama City. Damage was concentrated in central provinces, and aftershocks continued as officials urged calm. A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama on Friday morning, triggering tsunami threats across parts of Central and South America and shaking buildings as far away as the capital. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered about 9 miles southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, a remote community near Panama's southern tip, at a depth of 10 kilometers (six miles). The U.S. Tsunami Warning System flagged potential tsunami threats for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Peru, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, Colombia and Ecuador. The National Weather Service issued a tsunami warning Friday for the coasts of Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Guatemala.California officials calm tsunami fearsCalifornia weather officials moved to calm tsunami fears Friday after the powerful quake. The National Tsunami Warning Center said there is no tsunami danger for the West Coast, according to a release from the agency. While California faces no tsunami threat from the Panama quake, parts of the Southern California coast are already battling dangerous surf and flooding. The earthquake was felt across Panama, including in Panama City, where buildings shook and people evacuated into the streets.Visibly shaken residents gathered outside as they waited for news of the quake's impact. Local media reported that the quake was also felt in parts of neighboring Colombia. Rosendo Domínguez, 60, who is from Herrera province, where the earthquake struck, told The Associated Press: We felt it very strongly. It knocked things over in the kitchen, but we're OK, though we're very scared.Aftershocks continued to shake the streets on Friday shortly after the quake. Omar Smith of the National Civil Protection Service urged the public to remain calm. He told the Telemetro Reporta news channel that damage was concentrated in the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos. Panama's Civil Protection said it was investigating possible damage in regions near where the earthquake took place.Civil protection investigates quake damageThe quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers (six miles), according to the USGS. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the epicenter about 10 kilometers (six miles) southwest of Pitaloza Arriba. The earthquake prompted evacuations in the capital and across the country.