OMM Newsroom
Panama recorded 746 aftershocks following a magnitude 7.5 earthquake on Oct. 9, as scientists investigate reported changes along the Pacific coast, local media reported Friday, according to Anadolu Agency.
Aftershocks may continue for up to two months
“According to theory and historical information, aftershocks from an earthquake of this magnitude can last between one and two months,” Nestor Luque, director of the University of Panama’s Institute of Geosciences, told the La Prensa newspaper.
Luque said the earthquake occurred at a depth of less than 10 kilometres (6.2 miles). The energy released continues to cause tectonic blocks to readjust, he said.
Seismic records showed that the aftershocks were gradually decreasing in magnitude, Luque said. He added that earthquakes recorded in Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro were associated with separate fault systems and were not necessarily linked to the Oct. 9 quake.
Geologists to examine reported coastal changes
Researchers are examining reports of changes along Panama’s Pacific coast, where residents have observed exposed rocks and areas where the sea appears to have receded.
Luque said fault movements could cause coastal land to rise or sink, changing the shape of the surface. Geologists will inspect the affected areas to determine whether fault movements caused the reported changes.
Researchers are also investigating reports of changes in water colour, including greyish tones. Underground water may have come into contact with minerals released during the earthquake, Luque said, but chemical tests are needed to establish the cause.
Residents of Isla Canas, in the southern province of Los Santos, reported that the island appeared to have split following the earthquake. Luque said geologists would examine whether fractures extended across the island and reached the sea, which could provide evidence of fault movement.
The Institute of Geosciences estimates that strengthening seismic monitoring would require around 150 instruments, while a nationwide early-warning system could need 700 sensors.
