A massive magnitude 7.7 earthquake has hit Panama, damaging buildings and causing widespread shaking.

Axar.az reports, citing BBC, that about 4.6 million people felt moderate to severe tremors as a result of the quake, according to the US Geological Survey, which has said that the effects of the quake were "likely to be widespread".

It struck just before 15:00 local time (18:00 GMT) on Friday, with an epicentre about 6.2 miles (10km) from the town of Pitaloza Arriba in south-central Panama.

Buildings collapsed in the towns of Penonome and Sona, including one of a man calling out to anyone trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building. No casualties have so far been reported.

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

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.

Tsunami warnings were initially issued for 11 countries neighbouring Panama, before the US Tsunami Warning System confirmed there was no threat.