A powerful earthquake struck off the southern coast of Panama on Friday, with outlets reporting magnitudes ranging from 7.6 to 7.7, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake was reported about 10 km west-southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, Panama, at a depth of 10 km, according to ABC News and RTÉ News, citing the USGS. Several outlets, including Fox News and Independent Journal Review, reported that the USGS initially estimated the magnitude at 8.0 before revising it downward to 7.6.
The quake triggered tsunami warnings and alerts across Central and South America, according to multiple outlets including NBC News, The Guardian and France 24. Newsweek reported a West Coast tsunami warning following the earthquake. Shaking was felt as far away as Panama City and in San José, the capital of neighboring Costa Rica, according to The Jerusalem Post, which cited Reuters witnesses, and Independent Journal Review.
CBS News reported that the earthquake shook buildings as far as the capital and prompted evacuations. The Sun noted the quake struck near the Panama Canal. Deutsche Welle reported that Panama's president declared a "major disaster" after a series of tremors damaged buildings and briefly suspended flights, while also triggering the tsunami alert across the region.
Arab News reported that the quake avoided major destruction overall, though aftershocks followed and damages were reported primarily in central provinces. Independent Journal Review said there were no immediate reports of damage, though people evacuated buildings and officials warned of possible tsunami waves along parts of the Pacific coast. Fox News reported that officials were investigating a potential tsunami threat after the magnitude revision.
How the coverage differed
Left-leaning outlets, including CNN and NBC News, emphasized visual and human elements, such as video showing people pouring into the streets, alongside the tsunami warnings. CBS News and Bloomberg focused on the scale of the quake and its effects reaching the capital. Most left-leaning sources reported the magnitude as 7.7, including NBC News, CBS News and Bloomberg, while others, such as the Associated Press and ABC News, cited 7.6.
Center outlets, such as Reuters, RTÉ News and The Straits Times, emphasized the USGS's technical details, including the quake's depth and the downgrade from an initial 8.0 estimate. Deutsche Welle was alone among supplied sources in reporting the Panamanian president's declaration of a "major disaster" and flight suspensions, a claim not corroborated elsewhere in the material. The Times of India reported the magnitude as 8, differing from the majority figure of 7.6 used by most center outlets.
Right-leaning outlets, including Fox News and Independent Journal Review, gave particular attention to the magnitude revision from 8.0 to 7.6 and to the lack of immediate damage reports, while also noting the quake's proximity to the Panama Canal, as reported by The Sun. The Jerusalem Post was the only outlet to specify that the quake was felt in San José, Costa Rica's capital, attributing this to Reuters witnesses.
What is still unclear
The exact final magnitude of the earthquake remains inconsistently reported, with figures ranging from 7.6 to 7.7 and one outlet, The Times of India, citing magnitude 8. The scale of damage is also unclear: Arab News reported damage primarily in central provinces and Deutsche Welle reported a declared disaster and damaged buildings, while Independent Journal Review reported no immediate reports of damage.
How each side covered it
Left
- CNN and NBC News highlighted video of people pouring into the streets after the quake.
- Most left-leaning outlets reported the magnitude as 7.7, citing USGS.
- CBS News reported shaking reached buildings in the capital and prompted evacuations.
- Outlets reported tsunami warnings issued for several neighboring countries.
“New video shows people pouring into the streets as a powerful quake hits Panama” — CNN
Center
- Center outlets largely reported the magnitude as 7.6, citing USGS, with The Times of India citing magnitude 8.
- RTÉ News and The Straits Times detailed the quake's 10km depth near Panama's southern coast.
- Deutsche Welle reported Panama's president declared a "major disaster" and flights were briefly suspended.
- Arab News reported aftershocks and damage concentrated in central provinces, with no major destruction overall.
“Panama's president has declared a "major disaster" after a series of tremors damaged buildings, briefly suspended flights and triggered a tsunami alert in Central and South America.” — Deutsche Welle
Right
- Fox News and Independent Journal Review emphasized the USGS magnitude revision from 8.0 down to 7.6.
- The Jerusalem Post reported the quake was felt in Panama City and San José, Costa Rica.
- Independent Journal Review reported no immediate damage despite evacuations and tsunami warnings.
- The Sun noted the quake struck near the Panama Canal.
“A powerful earthquake off Panama's southern coast was initially estimated at magnitude 8.0 before being revised to 7.6, and shaking was felt in Panama City and neighboring Costa Rica.” — Independent Journal Review
Questions readers ask
What happened in Panama?
A powerful earthquake, reported at magnitude 7.6 to 7.7 by different outlets citing the USGS, struck off Panama's southern coast on Friday, triggering tsunami warnings across Central and South America.
How strong was the earthquake?
Outlets reported varying magnitudes between 7.6 and 7.7, and the USGS reportedly revised an initial estimate of magnitude 8.0 down to 7.6, according to Fox News and Independent Journal Review.
Was there damage from the earthquake?
Reports vary: Arab News said damage was reported primarily in central provinces and avoided major destruction, Deutsche Welle reported Panama's president declared a "major disaster" with damaged buildings, while Independent Journal Review reported no immediate reports of damage.
Where else was the earthquake felt?
The quake was felt in Panama City and in San José, the capital of neighboring Costa Rica, according to The Jerusalem Post, which cited Reuters witnesses, and Independent Journal Review.
What did left- and right-leaning outlets focus on?
Left-leaning outlets like CNN and NBC News emphasized video of people fleeing into the streets and the tsunami warnings, while right-leaning outlets like Fox News and Independent Journal Review focused on the magnitude's downward revision from 8.0 to 7.6 and the absence of immediate damage reports.
Sources · 43 outlet reports
- ABC NewsLeft-leaningTsunami threat after 7.6 magnitude earthquake recorded in Panama
- ABC News (Australia)Left-leaningBreaking: Powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake hits off coast of Panama
- Al Jazeera EnglishLeft-leaningTsunami warnings across Latin America after 7.7 magnitude earthquake hits
- Associated PressLeft-leaningA magnitude 7.6 earthquake shakes Panama, USGS reports
- BloombergLeft-leaningPanama Struck by Massive Quake, Sparking Tsunami Warnings
- CBS NewsLeft-leaningPanama struck by magnitude 7.7 earthquake, U.S. Geological Survey says
- CNNLeft-leaningPowerful earthquake shakes Panama
- HuffPostLeft-leaningPanama Rocked By 2 Powerful Earthquakes And Multiple Aftershocks, Prompting Evacuations
- Los Angeles TimesLeft-leaningA magnitude 7.7 earthquake shakes Panama, prompting evacuations
- NBC NewsLeft-leaningA 7.7-magnitude earthquake rocks Panama
- Scientific AmericanLeft-leaningMajor earthquake strikes Panama—damage and injuries are expected
- The GuardianLeft-leaningPowerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake hits Panama and triggers tsunami warnings
- The IndependentLeft-leaningPowerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake hits Panama coast as nine countries issued tsunami warnings
- The New York TimesLeft-leaning7.7-Magnitude Panama Earthquake Sets Off Series of Aftershocks
- USA TodayLeft-leaning7.7 magnitude earthquake rattles Panama causing major shockwaves
- Arab NewsCenterStrong Panama quake shakes nation, but avoids major destruction
- BBC NewsCenterPowerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake hits Panama, damaging buildings
- BBC SportCenterPowerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake hits Panama, damaging buildings
- Deutsche WelleCenterStrong earthquakes shake Panama, prompting tsunami alert
- EuronewsCenterVideo. Powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake strikes Panama, damaging buildings
- France 24Center🔴 Powerful 7.6 magnitude quake shakes Panama, triggering tsunami warning
- NewsNationCenterA magnitude 7.6 earthquake shakes Panama, USGS reports
- NewsweekCenterWest Coast Tsunami Warning After Massive 7.6 Earthquake Rocks Panama
- ReutersCenter7.6 magnitude earthquake felt in Panama - USGS
- RTÉ NewsCenter7.6 magnitude earthquake felt in Panama - USGS
- Sky NewsCenterWorkers evacuate buildings in Panama's capital after earthquake
- South China Morning PostCenterPanama rocked by 2 powerful earthquakes, multiple aftershocks
- The Japan TimesCenterMajor earthquake hits Panama, injures at least 27
- The Straits TimesCenterPowerful quake shakes Panama, canal operations normal
- The Times of IndiaCenterMagnitude 8 earthquake strikes off Panama’s southern coast, tsunami warning issued
- UPICenter7.7-magnitude earthquake strikes Panama, collapsing buildings
- BreitbartRight-leaningMajor Earthquake Rocks Panama, Triggers Tsunami Warning
- Daily MailRight-leaningUrgent tsunami alert after massive 7.7 earthquake topples buildings in Panama
- Fox NewsRight-leaningMassive 7.6 magnitude earthquake strikes Panama as officials investigate potential tsunami threat
- Independent Journal ReviewRight-leaningPanama 7.6 Quake Triggers Tsunami Alerts
- Just the NewsRight-leaningMassive 7.7 earthquake shakes Panama, triggers tsunami warning for nearby countries
- New York PostRight-leaningMassive earthquake strikes Panama, forcing officials to quickly dampen tsunami fears in California
- NewsmaxRight-leaningMassive 7.7 Earthquake Rocks Panama, Triggers Tsunami Alerts
- PJ MediaRight-leaningHere's What We Know About the Major Earthquake in Panama
- The Epoch TimesRight-leaningPanama Struck by 7.6 Quake; Tsunami Warning Issued
- The Jerusalem PostRight-leaningStrong 7.7 magnitude earthquake felt in Panama, Costa Rica, USGS says
- The SunRight-leaningHuge 7.6 mag earthquake strikes near Panama Canal as tsunami warning issued
- The Washington TimesRight-leaningTwo powerful earthquakes and multiple aftershocks rock Panama