Powerful Earthquakes Shake Panama, India Expresses Solidarity
Two strong earthquakes in Panama have caused panic. India shows support as the nation assesses the damage and impact on its citizens.
Panama, October 10 (Daily Kiran) : Panama experienced two powerful earthquakes late Friday night and early Saturday morning, causing widespread panic among its citizens. The tremors, measured at magnitudes of 7.7 and 6.6 on the Richter scale, struck the country with sudden force, prompting many to flee their homes in fear.
India has expressed solidarity with Panama during this crisis. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar took to social media platform X to convey, “India stands with the government and people of Panama in the aftermath of the earthquake. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers are with all those injured and affected, especially families facing loss and hardship.”
The spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing India’s unity with the people of Panama following the disaster.
The first earthquake hit at a depth of 10 kilometers, leading to chaos as residents rushed outside. According to news agency Xinhua, by 8 PM local time (1 PM IST), Panama’s National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) reported 27 injuries in its second bulletin.
On Saturday morning, another significant tremor, measuring 6.6, was felt. This quake also originated at a depth of 10 kilometers, causing buildings to collapse and roads to sustain severe damage in the central region of the country.
The United States Geological Survey indicated that the initial quake was so strong it was felt over 100 miles away in the capital. Following this, the second quake struck, compounding the distress.
The impact of the earthquakes was felt as far as Panama City, where many buildings were damaged, and walls in homes developed cracks. In the wake of the tremors, residents chose to remain outdoors, fearing aftershocks would make returning home unsafe.
Throughout the night, people stayed in open areas, hesitant to go back inside. They awaited updates on the situation, which remained tense.
Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino stated, “No one was prepared for this, and such disasters catch everyone off guard.” As of Friday evening, authorities had not reported any fatalities or severe injuries, but the president warned that the situation could change rapidly.
Initially, the U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center had issued alerts for possible tsunami waves along Panama’s coast but later confirmed that conditions had returned to normal.
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of these earthquakes, the focus remains on assessing the damage and ensuring the safety of its citizens.
