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Strong Earthquake Shakes Panama, Damaging Buildings and Injuring Several
A strong earthquake shook Panama on Friday, October 9.
Reports described it as magnitude 7.7 or 8.0.
People hurried outside buildings in Panama City because they were frightened by the shaking.
Some buildings and roads were damaged, especially in several provinces away from the capital.
Several people were hurt, but officials had not reported any deaths by Friday evening.
More than 40 smaller earthquakes followed.
Tsunami warnings were issued and later lifted for several nearby coasts.
The airport reopened, and the Panama Canal kept working while staff checked for damage.
A powerful earthquake struck southern Panama on Friday, October 9, with reports giving its magnitude as 7.7 and 8.0.
People evacuated buildings in Panama City; officials reported the main damage in Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos provinces.
Several people were hurt, and no deaths had been documented by Friday evening, President Raul Mulino said.
More than 40 aftershocks followed, while tsunami warnings for several countries and regions were later lifted.
Tocumen International Airport reopened, and the Panama Canal continued operating as teams checked facilities for damage.
- Who
- People in Panama; President Raul Mulino and civil protection officials reported on the effects.
- What
- A powerful earthquake caused evacuations, building and road damage, injuries, and more than 40 aftershocks.
- Where
- Southern Panama, including Panama City and the provinces of Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos.
- When
- Friday, October 9, 2026.
- Why
- The earthquake struck in a thinly populated area; the articles do not state what caused it.
Magnitude Reported
Different Figures
Earthquake magnitude
Magnitude Reported
The article text describes the earthquake as magnitude 7.7.
Different Figures
A linked social media post and a video caption describe it as magnitude 8.0.
Key facts
- Reported magnitude
- 7.7 in the article text; a linked post and video caption described it as 8.0.
- Depth
- 12.6 km, according to the US Geological Survey.
- Location
- About 200 km from Panama City, in a thinly populated area.
- Aftershocks
- More than 40; AP reported magnitudes of 5.8, 5.5 and 5.2 among them.
- Reported casualties
- Several people were hurt; no deaths had been documented by Friday evening.
- Tsunami alerts
- Warnings for Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Guatemala were lifted; alerts for El Salvador and Easter Island were also lifted.
- Transport and canal
- Tocumen International Airport reopened Friday afternoon, and the Panama Canal continued operating normally.
- Power and economic estimate
- Naturgy reported outages in six provinces; the USGS estimated economic losses of 1% to 10% of Panama's GDP.
Quotes
Rosendo Domínguez
A 60-year-old resident of Herrera province who described the earthquake's effects to the AP.
“Everyone is outside, scared.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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