A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake has struck the southwestern part of the Central American country of Panama.

The earthquake occurred at 12:56 p.m. local time on the 9th, about 14 kilometers southwest of Pitalosa, Aribas, in southern Panama, at a depth of 10 kilometers.

The U.S. Geological Survey warned that tsunamis could occur along some coasts of Panama, as well as parts of Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, and Mexico.

Following the earthquake, authorities temporarily closed Panama's Tocumen International Airport for safety reasons and suspended subway operations.

The Panama Canal is operating normally.