Strong Shallow 7.6–7.7 Earthquake Rattles Panama

Overview

• A strong, shallow quake struck near Pitaloza Arriba on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, with the USGS revising an initial automatic 8.0 estimate down to about 7.6–7.7 and a depth near 10–12 km.
• U.S. tsunami-warning authorities issued broad Pacific alerts that covered many Central and South American coasts and Hawaii while monitoring sea conditions for possible hazardous waves.
• Thousands of people evacuated buildings in Panama City and neighboring countries, Metro de Panamá services and Tocumen airport operations were suspended for safety checks, and some flights were diverted or declared emergencies.
• Preliminary reports show structural damage in southern towns, notably partial collapses at the Dos Continentes hotel and the cathedral tower in Penonomé, while officials have not yet released a consolidated casualty count.
• Seismic networks recorded a dozen or more aftershocks including events near magnitude 6.0, which are keeping the region at elevated risk and complicating inspections of bridges, ports and other critical infrastructure.