Earthquake felt in Panama lasted two minutes, causing concern

A powerful magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Colombia's Chocó region early Monday, with its tremors felt across parts of Panama, particularly in communities near the border. Residents in Jaqué, Darién, described the shaking as unusually prolonged, lasting for approximately two minutes.

"It was different from other earthquakes we have experienced, and it worried us," said José Richards, a resident of the border community. The prolonged movement caused concern among the population, prompting the evacuation of schools in line with established safety recommendations for such events.

Richards reported that despite the initial worry, the situation quickly calmed down. "We looked around, there were no damages, the population remains calm, and the students have returned to their activities," he told TVN Noticias. He noted that while the area has experienced seismic activity before, the duration and intensity of this particular tremor caused greater apprehension.

Following the precautionary evacuation of educational centers, the community returned to a state of calm. According to Richards' testimony, no damage was reported in the community. The earthquake's epicenter was in Colombian territory, but its proximity to the border allowed it to be perceived in Panama.

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It was different from other earthquakes we have experienced, and it worried us. We looked around, there were no damages, the population remains calm, and the students have returned to their activities.