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Massive earthquake strikes Panama at magnitude 7.6, tsunami threat issued
On Friday, October 9, 2026, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck near Pitaloza Arriba, Panama, at 10 kilometers depth. The U.S. Geological Survey reported tremors shook buildings as far as Panama City, triggering widespread evacuations.
Seismic agencies initially estimated the tremor at magnitude 8.0 before revising downward to 7.6, a standard adjustment as station data arrived. Panama's southern coast lies along the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' where most seismic activity occurs.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued alerts for nine countries, warning hazardous waves were possible within hours. Authorities reported no confirmed casualties or major infrastructure damage in Panama City as of early afternoon.
Maintaining operations despite the quake, the Panama Canal Authority reported that shipping continues normally. National Civil Protection Service official Omar Smith urged public calm as teams monitored for hazards.
Today's magnitude 7.7 quake matches the 1991 Limón earthquake, the strongest on record in Costa Rica, which killed 48 people in Costa Rica and 79 in Panama. Seismologist Jeffrey Park warned the quake's size was a 'red flag for a tsunami warning,' noting potential for severe damage.