Massive earthquake strikes Panama at magnitude 7.6, tsunami threat issued
- On Friday, October 9, 2026, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck near Pitaloza Arriba, Panama, at 10 km depth, according to the U.S. Geological Survey; tremors shook buildings as far as Panama City, prompting mass evacuations.
- Panama lies along the 'Ring of Fire,' a 25,000-mile arc of volcanoes and fault lines around the Pacific Basin, where tectonic plate convergence makes strong earthquakes recurring.
- Omar Smith of the National Civil Protection Service reported damage concentrated in Veraguas, Herrera, and Los Santos provinces, while local media footage showed a Catholic cathedral collapsing in Penonomé.
- The U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued alerts for nine countries, including Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador, warning of potential waves 1 to 3 m high for coastal residents.
- Media reports confirm the Panama Canal is operating normally, and Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino called for calm, stating, "What happened should not be used to cause alarm or disorder.
498 Articles
498 Articles
A strong earthquake, with the magnitude of 7.6, took place along the southern coast of Panama, causing panic in Panama City and also being felt in neighboring Costa Rica. Following the earthquake, the American tsunami warning system signaled a possible risk for certain coastal areas of Columbia and Ecuador along the Pacific Ocean.
A tsunami warning has been issued in Panama, after a powerful earthquake in the southern part of the country.
Panama has been struck by an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7. This would make it one of the strongest tremors of the year worldwide. There are no reports of casualties yet. The epicenter of the quake was in the southern province of Herrera, a sparsely populated area. Local media report that in various regions of the country, people had to evacuate buildings, businesses, schools, and homes. In the city of Penonomé, the cathedral, the governor…
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