Panic erupts after 6.6 magnitude earthquake hits South American towns

Panic erupted amongst locals as sturdy tremors have been felt in different portions of Colombia and Panama. Several citizens rushed to the road as night time was once falling to offer protection to themselves from any particles falling and test the damages to their houses.

Footage shared on social media by way of Twitter customers depicted frantic scenes as other folks ran outdoor whilst more youthful voices might be heard screaming and a canine barking.

In every other video, other folks might be noticed strolling across the rubble, and Colombian e-newsletter Semana reported some noticed whole partitions in their properties in tatters.

A video from the town of Necoclí, within the Antioquia area, additionally confirmed timber swaying as locals got here in combination within the streets, the e-newsletter added.

The first earthquakewith magnitude 6.6, was once reported on Wednesday night time and had its epicenter within the Caribbean Sea, some 41km from Acandí, a the town within the Colombian north-west area of Chocó.

The Colombian Geological Service (SGC) showed the seismic match happened at 3.05am BST (10.05pm native time).

The US Geological Survey (USGS) added the quake’s epicenter was once at a intensity of 10km.

Some 10 mins later, a primary aftershock came about, with its epicenter additionally within the Caribbean Sea, this time 34km from Acandi.

This tremor, recorded at 3.14am BST (10.14pm native time), had a magnitude of four.9.

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Two extra aftershocks adopted throughout the hour, with one tremor of magnitude 3.6 being felt at 3.23am BST (10.23pm native time), 33 mins ahead of the fourth quake, with magnitude 3.1.

The seismic job was once felt strongly in different spaces within the towns of Montería, Córdoba and Medellin – despite the fact that officers from the latter house stated no damages were reported right away.

People dwelling in Bucaramanga and Colombia’s capital Bogotá additionally took to Twitter to proportion their considerations after experiencing the tremors.

Officials are recently assessing the wear and tear to decide the collection of other folks affected.

While other folks in some areas of Panama, together with spaces of its capital, additionally felt the quakes, the rustic’s civil coverage company stated it had no longer right away gained stories of damages.

However, officers added they’d proceed to “monitor” the location.

Shortly after the earthquake struck, Panama’s National Emergency Operations Center had dominated out the opportunity of a tsunami.

Additional reporting by way of Maria Ortega.