November 19, 2008 Earthquake: Paso Canoa, David, Puerto Armuelles, Panama

November 19, 2008, 06:11:20.7 UTC, 8.267 N, 82.967 W, depth 32 km, magnitude 5.9 mb, 5.9 MS, 6.1 MW. Slight damage at

Chiriqui, David and Puerto Armuelles, Panama. Felt (V)

at Bajo Boquete, Dolega and Rio Sereno; (IV) at Bocas

del Toro and Bugaba. Also felt at Aguadulce, Alanje,

Anton, Panama, Penonome, San Carlos and Santiago. Felt

(VI) at Golfito; (V) at Grecia, Limon, Parrita, San

Antonio and San Rafael; (IV) at Alajuela, Curridabat,

Desamparados, Escazu, Guadalupe, Quepos, San Isidro,

San Jose, San Juan, San Pablo, San Pedro, Santa Ana

and Tres Rios; (III) at Heredia, Coata Rica. Also felt

at Atenas, Calle Blancos, Cartago, Colon, Florencia,

Mercedes, Naranjo, Palmar, Paraiso, Puerto Cortes,

Puntarenas, Purral, San Ramon, Santo Domingo, San

Vicente and San Vito. (reference #1053)

Dozens of families frightened by aftershocks slept outside overnight Wednesday after a magnitude 6.2 earthquake shook coastal Panama near the border with Costa Rica. The quake was centered about 235 miles (380 km) west of Panama City, near the town of David, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 1:11 a.m. ET and residents reported feeling three aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of casualties, but damage was reported in the cities of Paso Canoa, David and Puerto Armuelles. The extent of the damage was not immediately known. Many families opted to stay outside their homes, saying that they felt as if the earth were swallowing them and that trees and their houses were falling down. (reference #4030)