Disasters & Incidents
Panama quake triggers tsunami warning, damages buildings
A magnitude-7.7 earthquake shook Panama on Friday, damaging buildings in the centre of the country and triggering a tsunami warning for Panama.
The US Geological Survey said the quake was detected at 1756 GMT, with an epicentre 10 kilometres from Pitaloza Arriba in south-central Panama and a shallow depth of 12 kilometres. The US Tsunami Warning System said waves up to three metres high could hit Panama’s coastline in the coming hours. It also warned of smaller but dangerous waves along the coasts of other countries in Latin America and the South Pacific.
Panama’s National Civil Protection System said the quake was felt across the country of about 4.5 million people and lasted around a minute. AFP saw people rush to evacuate skyscrapers in Panama City, about 200 kilometres from the epicentre.
There were no reports yet of casualties, but extensive damage was expected, particularly in central Panama. Local media images showed part of a hotel had collapsed in Penonome, about 150 kilometres southwest of Panama City. Local reports also said a church in Penonome was seriously damaged and other buildings had cracks. Images released by local press showed cracks in a road in Veraguas province.
The local geosciences institute recorded more than a dozen large aftershocks, including one magnitude-6 tremor. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino called for calm on X and said he had requested a damage report.
Update
Buildings collapsed or were seriously damaged in central Panama, including reported damage in Penonome.
The National Civil Protection System said the quake was felt across Panama and lasted around a minute.
The US Tsunami Warning System warned that waves up to three metres could hit Panama and that smaller dangerous waves could affect other coasts in Latin America and the South Pacific.
Local geosciences officials recorded more than a dozen large aftershocks, including one magnitude-6 tremor.
President Jose Raul Mulino called for calm and requested a damage report.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 October 2026 at 20:03:40 UTC.
Update
The US Tsunami Warning System said tsunami waves up to three metres high could hit Panama's coastline in the coming hours.
Several large aftershocks were recorded, including one magnitude-6 tremor.
No casualties had been reported yet.
The quake was felt across Panama, according to the USGS.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 October 2026 at 19:25:32 UTC.
Update
USGS put the earthquake at magnitude 7.7 after an initial magnitude-8 measurement.
The quake was registered at a shallow depth of 12 kilometres.
The US Tsunami Warning System warned hazardous tsunami waves were possible within three hours along eastern Pacific coastlines from Mexico to Peru.
Many people were evacuated from buildings in Panama City, about 200 kilometres from the epicentre.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 October 2026 at 18:44:04 UTC.
Update
The US Geological Survey measured the quake at magnitude 7.6 after an initial magnitude 8 reading.
The quake was detected at 1756 GMT.
The epicentre was reported 10 kilometres from Pitaloza Arriba in south-central Panama.
A tsunami threat notice was issued.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 October 2026 at 18:27:25 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The number of casualties, if any, was not yet known.
The full extent of damage was not yet known.
Whether tsunami waves had reached any coastline was not yet reported.
Source
AFP news report published on .