Honduras maintains surveillance following tsunami warning due to earthquake in Panama

The earthquake reported by the USGS reached a magnitude of 7.7 and had an approximate depth of 10 kilometers. (Photo: Courtesy / social media)Honduras is keeping its Pacific coasts under surveillance following the tsunami warning issued after a strong earthquake recorded in Panama, although available projections indicate that the waves that could reach Honduran territory would be less than 30 centimeters. The Secretariat of National Risk and Contingency Management (Copeco) reported that its technical teams are permanently monitoring the behavior of the sea and seismic activity in the region, in order to identify any change that could pose a risk to coastal communities. "The State Secretariat in the Offices of National Risk and Contingency Management (COPECO), through its technical teams, maintains permanent monitoring of sea conditions and seismic activity, following the recording of an earthquake of magnitude 7.6 in Panama, with a preliminary depth of 10 kilometers," the institution stated in a communiqué. The tremor prompted the issuance of a tsunami warning by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), given the possibility that it could generate dangerous waves, mainly for the Panamanian coasts. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning due to the possibility that the tremor could generate dangerous waves. (Photo: EFE/ Bienvenido Velasco) How large would the waves be in Honduras? According to the estimates released by Copeco, the waves that could arrive in Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador would have a height of less than 30 centimeters, making them barely perceptible compared to the usual surf. "According to this information, no major threat is expected for the Honduran coasts; however, vigilance is maintained in case of any update from the specialized agencies," the institution emphasized. The authorities are keeping track of technical reports to determine whether there are variations in sea level that require new assessments. Although the initial projections point to a limited impact in Honduras, the institution continues to watch for updates issued by the specialized agencies. Copeco also noted that the possible occurrence of seismic aftershocks is being considered, since new tremors could prompt a reevaluation of the risk conditions in the region. For the moment, the information provided by the institution focuses on preventive monitoring and wave height estimates, without the cited communiqué establishing a major threat to the Honduran coasts. Copeco maintains vigilance in case of possible updates from the specialized agencies in seismic and tsunami activity. (Photo: Courtesy / social media) The warning came after a large-magnitude earthquake shook southeastern Panama this Friday. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the tremor reached a magnitude of 7.7 and had a depth of approximately 10 kilometers. The epicenter was located about 12 kilometers from Tonosí, a town situated in southwestern Panama, and approximately 239 kilometers from Panama City, the country's capital. The relatively shallow depth and the magnitude of the event prompted the activation of the tsunami warning in the Pacific, due to the possibility that the displacement of the seabed could generate waves capable of affecting coastal areas. The magnitude reported by the USGS was 7.7, while the initial communiqué from Copeco referred to an earthquake of 7.6. This difference may be due to updates or variations between the preliminary reports of the agencies that monitor seismic activity. The tsunami warning prompted the monitoring of maritime conditions in several countries in the region, including Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. (Photo: Image generated with AI) The Honduran institution will continue to monitor seismic activity and changes in sea level, awaiting new evaluations from the centers specialized in tsunami warnings. The monitoring seeks to promptly identify any variation that modifies the initial estimates regarding the possible impact of the phenomenon in Honduras. Meanwhile, the projections released by Copeco indicate that the waves that could reach the Honduran coasts would be less than 30 centimeters, a height considerably lower than what would represent a major threat.