A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama on Friday, shaking the capital and neighboring areas as authorities began assessing damage and tsunami alerts were issued for parts of Central and South America.

The Brazil Right coverage presented the event in the most concise terms, headlining it simply, “7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Panama.”¹ Its report supplied no further account of the quake’s effects, casualties or official response.

The Brazil Left report offered a more detailed on-the-ground picture. It said the US Geological Survey revised the tremor’s strength to 7.7 after earlier estimates of 8.0 and 7.6, and placed the epicentre 10 kilometres from Pitaloza Arriba, in Herrera province.² The quake occurred at 12:56 p.m. local time, according to the report.

That account stressed the disruption in Panama City, where thousands of people left high-rise buildings in fear after feeling the shaking. “There have been no reports of victims so far,” it said, while noting some material damage.² It also described earthquakes in the capital as unusual, with seismic activity more commonly associated with the province of Chiriquí.

The two perspectives therefore agree on the central fact: Panama was hit by a major earthquake. Their difference is one of focus. The brief account treats it primarily as a seismic event, while the fuller report depicts the immediate human response and the uncertainty facing officials. Authorities were evaluating conditions in Herrera, Azuero, Veraguas, Los Santos and other areas, and urged residents to remain calm.²