Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Powerful Panama Earthquake Damages Buildings; Canal Operations Continue
A very strong earthquake shook Panama on Friday.
It began near La Pitaloza, far from the capital, but people felt the shaking in many places.
Some homes and other buildings were damaged, and people went outside for safety.
Smaller earthquakes followed, including one strong aftershock.
Reports differed about whether people had been injured, and no deaths were reported in the immediate updates.
Officials issued tsunami alerts for parts of the Pacific coast, and later reports said the alerts had been lifted.
The airport and Metro briefly stopped some services.
The Panama Canal said it continued operating while teams checked its facilities.
A magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck southern Panama on Friday, October 9, near La Pitaloza in Herrera Province.
Buildings and homes were damaged, including reported collapses and cracks in central provinces; accounts differed on whether injuries had been reported.
A magnitude-6.6 aftershock and dozens of smaller aftershocks followed the main quake.
Tsunami warnings and alerts were issued for Panama and other Pacific-facing areas, then later lifted, according to some reports.
The airport and Panama City Metro temporarily suspended services; the Panama Canal reported normal operations while facilities were inspected.
- Who
- Residents across Panama were affected; President José Raúl Mulino called for calm and directed government agencies to respond.
- What
- A magnitude-7.7 earthquake damaged buildings, triggered aftershocks and prompted evacuations and tsunami alerts.
- When
- Friday, October 9, 2026.
- Where
- Near La Pitaloza in Herrera Province, southern Panama; shaking was also reported in Panama City and neighboring countries.
- Why
- The earthquake was attributed to tectonic activity; reports cited a rupture along a major plate boundary and a Panamanian official's attribution to the Azuero Sona Fault System.
Initial or higher-impact reports
Other or later reports
Injuries
Initial or higher-impact reports
Some accounts said several injuries had been reported, including a person struck by debris in Penonomé.
Other or later reports
Other reports said no injuries had been reported in the immediate aftermath; no deaths were reported immediately.
Magnitude
Initial or higher-impact reports
The USGS revised its initial magnitude-8.0 estimate to 7.7.
Other or later reports
Panama's geological institute reported magnitude 7.2.
Extent of destruction
Initial or higher-impact reports
Early warnings and USGS estimates cited the possibility of extensive damage and substantial economic losses.
Other or later reports
Reuters reported that Panama appeared to avoid widespread destruction or deaths, while documenting damage to buildings and homes.
- Main quake
- The USGS reported magnitude 7.7 and a depth of 12.6 kilometers; it initially reported magnitude 8.0 before revising its estimate.
- Other magnitude estimate
- Panama's geological institute reported the quake as magnitude 7.2.
- Aftershocks
- A magnitude-6.6 aftershock was reported; University of Panama seismologists recorded more than 45 aftershocks.
- Damage and injuries
- Damage was reported in Herrera, Los Santos, Veraguas and Penonomé. Some accounts reported injuries, while others said no injuries had been reported immediately; no immediate deaths were reported.
- Tsunami alerts
- Warnings or alerts covered Panama and other Pacific-facing countries and areas. Later reports said the warnings had been lifted.
- Transport and schools
- Tocumen International Airport and Panama City Metro lines 1 and 2 temporarily suspended operations; the education ministry ordered schools closed nationwide.
- Critical infrastructure
- The Panama Canal, Trans-Panama oil pipeline and AES Panama power plants reported normal operations; power outages were reported in six provinces.
- Potential economic losses
- USGS estimates cited by reports ranged from 1% to 10% of Panama's GDP; Bloomberg reported an early estimate that regional losses could exceed $1 billion.
Sources
Panama earthquake: Second 6.6-magnitude tremor follows 7.7 quake
Aftershocks Rock Panama Following Largest Quake in Decades
Strong Panama quake shakes nation, but avoids major destruction
Powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake strikes Panama, tsunami warning issued
Panama Hit by Powerful Earthquakes, Tsunami Alert Issued
Panama hit by earthquakes, aftershocks trigger evacuations and tsunami alerts - Telegraph India