Magnitude 7.7 quake jolts Panama as tsunami alerts go out across the region

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake hit Panama on Friday. It left heavy damage behind and set off tsunami alerts up and down the coast.

Where it struck

The U.S. Geological Survey placed the center of the quake a little more than 7 miles from the town of Pitaloza Arriba. The shaking began on the country's Pacific side shortly before 1 p.m. local time.

More than 12 aftershocks followed. The USGS estimates about 4.6 million people felt shaking that ranged from moderate to severe.

There were no early reports on injuries.

Caught on camera

One video shows a live broadcast at the moment the ground started moving. The hosts leap from their seats and dash for safety while the whole building sways. Things can be heard breaking in the background.

A photo from another spot shows a swimming pool that cracked during the quake and started losing water.

Tsunami threat

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System said dangerous waves were possible along parts of the coasts of Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru were also on the list.