Panama rocked by 2 powerful earthquakes and multiple aftershocks, prompting evacuations
USGS said about 4.6 million people felt shaking as aftershocks and evacuations followed the shallow quake.
- On Friday, October 9, 2026, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Panama near the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba, collapsing buildings and roads while prompting evacuations across the country, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
- Panama lies along the 'Ring of Fire,' an arc of volcanoes and fault lines where seismic activity is common; over 80 aftershocks followed the initial tremor, including one exceeding magnitude 6.0, complicating damage assessment efforts in central provinces.
- Central provinces, including Herrera and Los Santos, sustained building and cathedral collapses, while Panama City's Tocumen International Airport temporarily suspended operations; the Panama Canal Authority reported that shipping operations continued normally throughout the seismic event.
- Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino declared the event a 'major disaster' while coordinating response efforts in Penonome; U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged rapid support, joining regional leaders in offering assistance to affected communities.
- The National Weather Service lifted tsunami warnings that had been issued for Panama and eight neighboring countries shortly after the earthquake; authorities continue assessing damage in remote areas, cautioning that the full extent of the disaster remains under evaluation.
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Following Friday's earthquake, more than 200 aftershocks have been recorded in Panama. Authorities have declared a state of emergency across the country. Nearly 900 homes have been destroyed, and dozens of people have been injured.
More than 100 aftershocks rattle Panama as earthquake damage mounts
The toll from Friday’s powerful earthquake in Panama continued to mount Saturday, with authorities reporting at least 27 people injured, more than 400 buildings damaged and hundreds of coastal residents evacuated, as emergency crews assessed the destruction and the number of aftershocks surpassed 100.
Panama Earthquake: State of Emergency Declared After 7.7 Quake, With More Than 100 Recorded Aftershocks
Panama declared a state of emergency after two powerful earthquakes struck within a day, injuring 27 people, damaging infrastructure and isolating communities with landslides and blocked roads
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