Earthquake shakes Panama, no damage reported

PANAMA CITY, Jan 18 (Reuters) - A moderate earthquake shook Panama on Thursday, startling people but producing no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The quake measured a magnitude of 5.1 and originated close to Cerro Punta, a coffee-growing area in Chiriqui province near the Costa Rican border, the University of Panama's geoscience institute said. No injuries or damage were reported in the region, which is frequently hit by earthquakes, a civil protection spokesman told Reuters.

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