Two Powerful Earthquakes Strike Panama Within Hours, Prompting Evacuations

Two powerful earthquakes struck Panama within hours on Friday, October 9, 2026, shaking buildings across the country and prompting evacuations, according to the U.S. Geological Survey and CBS News.

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake and a subsequent magnitude 6.6 tremor struck Panama on October 9, prompting evacuations as authorities assessed possible damage. [Photo: Daniel Gonzalez, Xinhua]

The first earthquake registered magnitude 7.7 and occurred near Panama’s southern region.

The USGS placed its epicenter about 12 kilometers west-southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, at a depth of approximately 12.6 kilometers.

A second major earthquake, measuring magnitude 6.6, struck roughly two and a half hours later. Its epicenter was about 14 kilometers west of Río Grande, along Panama’s Pacific coast, at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers.

The tremors were felt far from the epicenters, including in Panama City, where buildings shook and people evacuated some structures as a precaution.

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said on Friday evening that authorities had not documented any deaths or injuries at that point. He cautioned, however, that the situation could change as officials continued to assess the effects of the earthquakes.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued a warning about the possibility of tsunami waves affecting parts of Panama’s coast.

The threat was subsequently declared over.

The two earthquakes were followed by numerous aftershocks. Authorities and emergency personnel continued monitoring the situation and assessing damage to buildings and infrastructure.

Although the earthquakes were powerful, early reports indicated that Panama had avoided widespread devastation. Officials continued to urge caution while assessments of affected areas proceeded.