Powerful Earthquake Damages Buildings in Panama

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck south-central Panama shortly before 15:00 local time on Friday, with its epicentre about 10km from Pitaloza Arriba and a recorded depth of 12km. The US Geological Survey estimated that about 4.6 million people experienced moderate to severe shaking and warned that the effects were likely to be widespread. Shallow earthquakes can cause more severe damage at the surface. Footage and verified video showed serious damage in several towns, including a collapsed section and spire of a cathedral in Penonomé and a hotel that had nearly collapsed. Buildings were also reported damaged in Soná and in Las Minas, where resident Ricardo Brown described cracks in his home and fear that it could fall. No casualties had been reported at the time of the article, and the full extent of the damage remained unclear. Several large aftershocks were recorded near the initial quake, potentially making conditions more difficult. In Panama City, around 200km from the epicentre, people evacuated buildings, including a maternity ward, and waited in streets and parks until the shaking stopped. Damage in the capital appeared limited to debris falling from roofs. President José Raúl Mulino said the government was mobilising and cautioned against causing alarm or disorder. Tsunami warnings were initially issued for 11 neighbouring countries, but the US Tsunami Warning System later confirmed there was no threat. The Panama Canal was reported unaffected. The earthquake struck three days before a planned nationwide earthquake evacuation drill. The report also notes that the disaster followed devastating earthquakes in Colombia and Venezuela earlier in the year.

A magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck Panama on Friday morning, with its shallow epicenter about 10 kilometers southwest of Pitaloza Arriba near the country’s southern tip. The US Geological Survey later reported a second powerful quake, magnitude 6.6, following a series of aftershocks. Tremors were strongly felt in Panama City, where buildings shook and residents hurried outdoors. People in the affected area described fear and damage inside their homes. President Jose Raul Mulino called the event a “major disaster” and said roads near the epicenter had been destroyed. Damage was concentrated in the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos, according to Omar Smith of the National Civil Protection Service. Smith reported several injuries, partial building collapses and cracks at a cathedral, as well as damage to the governor’s office and the Dos Continentes hotel. Local media reported that the colonial-era Church of San Atanasio in Los Santos province had collapsed; it had been designated a National Historic Heritage Site in 1938. The article did not provide a confirmed casualty count. A tsunami alert warned that hazardous waves could affect parts of the coasts of Panama and several other countries in Central and South America, as well as Hawaii. The warning was lifted later that afternoon. There were initially no reports of damage to the Panama Canal, which continued operating normally. Tocumen International Airport briefly suspended operations and evacuated before reopening. The article notes that Panama lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region where most of the world’s earthquakes occur.

A 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck Panama on Friday morning, shaking buildings in the capital and prompting evacuations. The US Geological Survey (USGS) placed the epicentre near Panama’s southern tip, about 14 kilometres southwest of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba. Tremors were also felt in parts of neighbouring Colombia. The National Weather Service issued a tsunami warning for coastal areas of Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Guatemala. In Panama City, residents rushed into the streets as buildings shook, though authorities said no damage had been reported in the capital. Omar Smith of Panama’s National Civil Protection Service told local broadcaster Telemetro Reporta that damage was mainly reported in the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos. Local footage showed a cathedral collapsing and a hotel façade falling onto a car in Penonomé. No casualties were immediately reported. Several aftershocks followed, including two measured by the USGS at magnitudes 5.8 and 5.5. Panama’s Civil Protection agency said it was assessing possible damage near the epicentre. President José Raúl Mulino urged calm, warning against using the event to cause alarm or disorder. The article places the earthquake in the context of Panama’s location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a roughly 40,000-kilometre belt of volcanoes and fault lines where most of the world’s earthquakes occur.

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Panama’s southern coast at 1:56 p.m. ET on Friday, shaking Panama City and reportedly being felt in San José, Costa Rica. The U.S. Geological Survey initially estimated the quake at magnitude 8.0 before revising it to 7.7. Its epicenter was near Pitaloza Arriba, about six miles below the surface. A magnitude 5.5 aftershock followed, centered roughly 50 miles east of the initial quake. Authorities investigated the possibility of tsunami impacts. Forecasts warned that waves of 3 to 10 feet above tide levels could affect some coastal areas of Panama, while parts of Ecuador could see waves around 1 to 3 feet. Waves under 1 foot were forecast for coastal areas of Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru. Officials said, however, that a Pacific-wide tsunami was not expected. The article reports that people gathered outside a Panama City hospital and evacuated buildings after the shaking. It also notes that earthquakes in the 7.0–7.9 range can cause serious damage, citing Michigan Technological University. At the time of publication, information about damage or casualties from the earthquake was not immediately available. The report identifies the event as developing and says updates may follow.

A powerful earthquake struck southern Panama on Friday, October 9, 2026, prompting evacuations and tsunami warnings along parts of Central America’s Pacific coast. The article’s opening reports a magnitude of 7.6 and a depth of 10 kilometres, while the later account says the quake measured 7.7 after initially being recorded at magnitude 8. The US Geological Survey (USGS) placed the epicentre near Pitaloza Arriba in south-central Panama; the story gives the location as about 10 kilometres from the town and reports a depth of 12 kilometres in its later account. The quake was detected at 1756 GMT and was felt across Panama, a country of around 4.5 million people. Buildings shook as far away as Panama City, roughly 200 kilometres from the epicentre, where AFP witnessed people being evacuated from buildings and gathering in open areas. Several large aftershocks were recorded, including one measuring magnitude 6. At the time of publication, there were no reports of casualties, though the article said extensive damage was expected, particularly in central Panama. The US Tsunami Warning System warned that waves of up to three metres could hit the Panamanian coastline in the coming hours, and indicated potential tsunami threats along much of Central America’s Pacific coast. The article notes that earthquakes are rare in Panama and usually occur in the western province of Chiriquí. The report is based on information from the USGS and the tsunami warning system, with additional coverage credited to AFP.

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama on Friday, October 9, 2026, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake occurred at a depth of 12.6 kilometres in Herrera Province, about 200 kilometres southwest of the Panama Canal. The USGS initially measured it at magnitude 8.0 before revising the figure; Panama’s geological institute reported magnitude 7.2. Tsunami warnings were issued for Panama and several other Pacific-facing countries, though the article does not report that a tsunami occurred. Buildings and roads were damaged, including structures in Penonomé and homes in Herrera Province. Videos showed a historic building tower and residential balconies collapsing. Ricardo Brown, a resident of Las Minas, described cracks in his home and fear that it might fall. Shaking was also felt in San José, Costa Rica. Panama’s civil protection agency reported impacts in Chitré and along the coast of Los Santos Province. The Panama Canal and ship traffic were unaffected. Flights at Tocumen International Airport were suspended for several hours and resumed Friday evening, while two Panama City Metro lines were temporarily closed and schools were shut nationwide. The earthquake prompted evacuations from buildings, businesses, schools and homes. Authorities were also preparing for a nationwide evacuation drill scheduled for the following Monday. The article places the event in the context of other recent major earthquakes in Latin America, citing deadly and destructive quakes in Venezuela in June and Colombia on August 10.