Verified footage shows one side of a cathedral in Penonomé collapsed due to the shaking, as well as one of its spires.

Another video showed a local hotel had almost completely collapsed.

Ricardo Brown, who lives in the southern Herrera province, told news agency Reuters that the earthquake had damaged several homes in his neighbourhood of Las Minas.

"We're scared. It's just the two of us old folks here. The house has cracked and we're afraid it could fall on us," the 74-year-old said.

The full extent of the damage it has caused is not yet clear, though several large aftershocks were also reported near the initial earthquake, potentially complicating the situation on the surface.

The quake was registered as occurring at a depth of just 12km. The shallower the earthquake, the more likely it is to have more severe effects on the surface.

Many people were evacuated from buildings in Panama City, about 200km from the epicentre, and were seen taking to the streets or sitting in nearby parks until the shaking had ceased.

Damage in the capital appears to be limited to that caused by debris falling from roofs.

Panama's President José Raúl Mulino said his entire government was mobilising in response to the earthquake, adding: "What happened should not be used to cause alarm or disorder."

Read More