Local people in central Panama are still grappling with fear after a devastating earthquake struck the country on Friday, as more than 200 aftershocks have kept residents in the region on edge.
The quake jolted the country shortly after midday Friday, with its epicenter about 39 kilometers northwest of Tonosi in Los Santos Province.
The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported the earthquake at magnitude 8, then revised it to 7.6 and later to 7.7.
The tremor left dozens injured and damaged hundreds of homes and infrastructure across the region, prompting the government to declare a national state of emergency over the weekend.
In the hard-hit town of Penonome, the destruction is plain to see, with damaged buildings attesting to the force of the tremor.
Local journalist Carmen Urena said she is still filled with a sense of unease in the wake of the quake, despite the many emergency drills she has taken part in.
"Even though we had already gone through an earthquake drill and we will have another one tomorrow, I still get emotional thinking about [the] earthquake," said Urena.
The emergency response is pressing on, with authorities assessing damaged buildings and coordinating relief across the affected provinces as the country waits for the aftershocks to fade.
Powerful quake, aftershocks leave residents of central Panama in lingering fear
