A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck southern Panama on Friday afternoon, 9 Oct., triggering tsunami warnings for parts of the Pacific coast of Central and South America.

However, there is no tsunami threat to the Cayman Islands, as the earthquake occurred near Panama’s Pacific coast, on the opposite side of the Central American isthmus from the Caribbean Sea.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake struck shortly before 1pm Cayman time, with its epicentre approximately seven miles west-southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, about 124 miles southwest of Panama City.

The earthquake occurred at a relatively shallow depth of approximately six miles and was widely felt across Panama.

The initial earthquake was followed by a series of powerful aftershocks. By 2.25pm, five additional tremors measuring magnitude 5 or greater had reportedly been recorded.

ABC News reported that buildings shook in Panama City, prompting people to evacuate into the streets.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued alerts for several countries along the Pacific coast following the earthquake.

In its second tsunami threat message, the centre warned that waves reaching between three and nine feet above normal tide levels were possible along some coastal areas of Panama.

Waves of between one and three feet were also considered possible along parts of Ecuador’s coastline.

Smaller tsunami waves, generally less than one foot, were possible along some coastal areas of Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru.

As of 2.15pm Friday, there had been no confirmation that a tsunami had occurred.

Early reports indicated damage to buildings in parts of Panama, although the full extent of the destruction and any injuries remained unclear.

No tsunami warning or advisory was issued for the Cayman Islands or any other Caribbean islands in connection with the earthquake.

Cayman Airways currently has direct flights from Grand Cayman to Panama on Mondays and Thursdays.