Traumatised Panamanians begin recovery after 7.7-magnitude quake

In Macaracas, also located in Herrera province, 68-year-old retiree Javier Jimenez said he had to sleep at the town’s school. 

“We can’t live like this,” he said, his home’s entrance covered with broken tiles from his roof. 

“Everyone is afraid because the earthquakes are constant, we don’t dare to return,” he added.

Dozens of homes were damaged in the city, whose 66,000 residents were still without electricity on Saturday.

The epicentre of the initial quake was registered by the US Geological Survey (USGS) about 60km away, near the border of Herrera, Los Santos, and Veraguas provinces.

Earthquakes are rare in Panama and usually occur in western Chiriqui province, bordering Costa Rica.

STATE OF EMERGENCY 

Strong shaking in Panama City, more than 200km from the epicentre, sent panicked people pouring into the streets from the capital’s numerous high-rise buildings.

While no deaths have been reported from the quake, about 30 people have been treated for minor injuries.