Above: a map of the quake (graphic: United States Geological Survey)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

A strong 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Pacific coast of Panama on Wednesday, half a day after the major earthquake that killed six people in Chile last night.

The quake, which struck at a depth of 27 kilometres, occurred at around 11:13 AM, with an epicentre about 53 kilometres south of Pedregal and 60 kilometres south of David.

The quake caused weak to moderate shaking across the country (and in Costa Rica), and was felt as far east as Panama City.

It was felt on both the country’s Pacific and Caribbean coasts.

Panama had been under a tsunami alert last night following the earthquake in Chile; that alert was dropped a few hours after the quake, according to the country’s National System of Civil Protection.

It was not yet clear whether Wednesday’s quake caused any damage or injuries.