Second powerful earthquake strikes southwest Panama

A second powerful 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck Panama Friday afternoon following a series of aftershocks, the US Geological Survey said. It came after a magnitude 7.7 quake shook the Central American country, collapsing buildings near its epicenter and prompting evacuations.

The quake, which was felt as far away as neighbouring Colombia, was centered about 10 kilometres southwest of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba, in the central province of Herrera. It struck at a depth of 10 kilometres.

The USGS initially reported the quake as magnitude 8, then revised it to 7.6 and later to 7.7.