China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has extended condolences to the government of Panama and to people in the areas struck by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake, the ministry said in a statement released Saturday.
According to the ministry, no Chinese citizens have been reported injured or killed in the quake as of the time of the statement. The ministry said it and China's embassy in Panama will keep monitoring the situation and will provide assistance to Chinese nationals who need it.
The ministry also advised Chinese citizens in Panama to guard against secondary hazards triggered by the earthquake.
The statement was issued in response to a question from a journalist, the ministry said. It did not provide further details on the scale of the damage or on casualty figures.
The earthquake struck central Panama, and reports from other outlets described injured people and damaged buildings in the affected region. A Chinese embassy notice separately urged Chinese nationals in the country to take precautions against earthquake-related risks, including aftershocks and other secondary disasters, and listed emergency contact numbers.
China's foreign ministry maintains a public inquiry line and publishes consular notices through its embassy channels for citizens abroad.
What to watch next: whether Chinese authorities update the casualty status of nationals in Panama and whether the embassy issues further safety guidance as recovery work continues.
