Thread: Worst Earthquake Ever?

What is the biggest earthquake that ever happened in Panama? How big was it?

I would of thought Panama had more earthquakes. I was curious because I hadn't heard about any. I guess I hadn't heard about any because there aren't any to hear about.

Thanks for the information and the links.

There is actually an arch in a church(200yrs old) in the old part of Panama city , no cement holding it together, no stone has ever fallen out of it.

Originally Posted by MRWOOHOO

There is actually an arch in a church(200yrs old) in the old part of Panama city , no cement holding it together, no stone has ever fallen out of it.

So that is evidence that there aren't many bad earthquakes, right?

That is what I was told, no guarantees.

yehaa it would be a very safety place for the tourist..
how with about tsunami?
is it have ever happen?

Originally Posted by nuaeman

Yeah, it would be a very safety place for the tourist..
How about tsunamis? [Has] it have ever happened?

Any tsunami activity would be noticeable on the Pacific coast, but it is rather undeveloped--so, should one even hit the area, it would likely only get Panama City...

The northern, Caribbean coast, is too well protected by islands and reefs for a tsunami to make much of an impact.

Cheers.

owh, so panama is safe from tsunami?
do you have any evidence to prove that?

There have been no reports of tsunami activity anywhere in popularly available sources of Panamanian history. Feel free to look for some, and let us know what you find.

Cheers.

owh so anyone can get in panama beach without feel worry.

Originally Posted by nuaeman

Oh, so anyone can [go to a] Panamanian beach without [feeling] worry?

Yes--feel free to go to any beach in Panama without any worries that a tsunami will hit...

I'd worry more about mosquitoes on the Caribbean coast, and rocky beaches on the Pacific side--but those are two things that one can plan for...

Cheers.

Thanks Lala , Good news for me actually as I think want to be there soon. Maybe after complete some of my job then I want to bring my wife and kids go to vacation.

I didn't know this much about "How safe Panama is " . Thanks Lala for the info. Hope to catch you all there, soon.

well thanks, that was good bit of information,i'll make sure not to drive near baru when i'll visit panama.

About 6 years ago a earthquake hit near Bocas Del Toro . About 4.5 I think . I was staying at a local resort at that time . Anyway I had gone to bed early and ran out the front door of my cabin that faced the local "open air resort restaurant" . The resort owner was trying to get the patons out and they all had a good laugh at me in my Boxer Shorts . It was swaying pretty good . Later I heard a small tidal wave hit one of the local islands that was filming the Survirors TV show . It was about 2-3 feet high and washed everything into the protected side of the island and water .

Right on! A 4.5 quake is really, really minor--they're the usual magnitude of the ones that hit southern California on a regular basis. But, if you're not used to them, they are totally scary! The first one I went through had me on the phone to my mom in seconds flat! Running around in boxers is also a way to judge your fright level.

Cheers.

The largest earthquake I have experienced in Panama was 6.8. Several others were 6.4 and all these were centered near or in the Chiriqui province.

Yup...volcano = earthquakes

Now that there is so much more building going on in Panama, and lots more gringo expats, we're likely to hear more about any seismic activity that goes one there...

Cheers.

None of the earthquakes I experienced were centered near the volcano. The volcano has been very quiet. Most of the earthquakes I have felt were centered just off the coast near one of the three (or is it 4?) plates in that area.

Volcanoes are examples of seismic activity; California, for instance doesn't have any active volcanoes, but it did until a few eons ago. You may find earthquakes without volcanoes, but you will never find a volcano without earthquakes--they are usually just too mild for most to notice.

Cheers.

The biggest ever hit was 6.5 Magnitude..I don't know the exact year..But it was like a terror...I was shocked

Panama has a high risk of earthquakes, which scares me away. Read here about earthquakes in Panama:

http://www.panama-guide.com/article....60212130423299

http://www.panama-guide.com/earthquakes/

Earthquakes - Is Panama Ready for the Big One?

Sunday, February 12 2006 @ 01:04 PM EST
Contributed by: Don Winner
Views: 4,628
Earthquakes happen in Panama. In fact, there is a 50% of probability that it could happen at any time, according to the the directors of the Institute of Geociencias and the National System of Civil defense, Eduardo Camacho and Roberto Velásquez, respectively. But the idea is not to alarm but to educate. For that reason, in 2006 the goal is make sure people know what to do before, during, and after a big powerful earthquake. To educate to the population on the measures to take before, during and after an earthquake is one of the priorities established this year for the National Civil Defense System (Sinaproc). There is a "high probability" that an earthquake will hit Panama. The problem is that it's very difficult to predict when, where, and how it will happen. The goal is to prepare the public who, according to the Director of the SINAPROC rescue office, are not even aware of the risk.



The problem is that the threat is latent, according to Eduardo Camacho, Director of the Geosciences Institute of the University of Panama, who says that there are a considerable amount of active geologic faults in Panama, where without a doubt earthquakes can and will happen.

In addition, he adds, the seismic history of the country confirms the tendency, and shows that there have been earthquakes greater than 7.0 on the Richter scale.

"There is no part of Panama that is completely safe from earthquakes", Camacho said, although he added that the zones with greater danger are to the West in Chiriquí and the Darién.

He emphasized mainly that the probabilities for an earthquake are estimated at over 50% "because there are zones where there have not been an earthquake for more than 80 years".

He reminds us that on 25 December 2003 Chiriquí was shaken by an earthquake of 6.0 degrees, which he called "a caress" in comparison to the earthquake of 8 July 1934 which was 7.7 degrees on the Richter scale.

According to the latest information, between 14 December 2005 and 9 February 2006, 15 tremors have been recorded.

The worry of Velasquez is shared by Camacho, that the population must be educated on what to do and, in addition, the country must begin to build according to the antiseismic norms.

Velasquez added that the biggest problem they face is the general feeling among the people that "nothing happens here."

He warned, on the contrary, that Panama is a country experiencing earthquakes that are more frequent and more intense every day. "Nobody can say when an earthquake will happen, but is important to know what is due to do", he said.

In his opinion, the best prevention will be obtained when people are made to understand that they are not out of danger.

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