A tsunami warning was issued for several countries in Central and South America after a massive earthquake struck Panama on Friday. Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico were the countries impacted by the warning issued by the National Weather Service Tsunami Warning Center. The National Weather Service said tsunamis were "NOT expected" to hit the United States after sending out an initial alert that they were possible along the West Coast.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimated the earthquake struck near Pitaloza Arriba, Panama and had a 7.6 magnitude. Tremors were felt in Panama City, the country's largest city and capital. Seismologist Jeffrey Park said on CNN the initial size and location is a “red flag for a tsunami warning.” “If we’re not sure exactly what its earthquake source mechanism, what it’s faulting is like, but it has the possibility of leading to severe tsunami damage along the southern coastline of Panama,” he said.
This article includes reporting by the . This is a breaking news story.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
