Overview
- The 7.6–7.7 magnitude earthquake struck near Pitaloza Arriba on Friday, October 9, 2026, at a shallow depth that produced strong shaking felt in Panama City and in parts of neighboring Costa Rica and Colombia.
- Pacific tsunami authorities issued alerts for multiple countries after the quake and warned of localized waves of roughly one to three meters on parts of Panama’s coast while monitoring sea‑level data.
- Mass evacuations followed in major urban centers, Panama City suspended service on two metro lines and the education ministry closed schools as Civil Protection teams mobilized to assess damage.
- Several significant aftershocks were recorded, including events near magnitude 5.5 and 5.8 and a locally reported magnitude 6.0, and geologists warned of secondary risks such as landslides and ground liquefaction in vulnerable areas.
- Initial local reports show structural damage in central towns such as Penonomé, including partial collapses and cracked roads, but authorities have not yet released consolidated casualty or national damage totals as inspections continue.