Panama Earthquake Centers on Rural Community of Pitaloza Arriba

A rural community in central Panama has been identified as the epicenter of a powerful earthquake that was also felt in Colombian cities, including Bogotá and Medellín. Pitaloza Arriba, located in Herrera province, was named in an updated seismic bulletin issued by the Colombian Geological Service on October 9, 2026.

The agency's bulletin listed the earthquake's magnitude as 8.0 and its depth as 33 kilometers, according to information published by Colombian news outlet El Tiempo. The report identified Pitaloza Arriba, Panama, as the location associated with the seismic event.

Pitaloza Arriba is situated in the La Pitaloza administrative subdivision, within the Los Pozos district of Herrera province, according to geographic information cited by El Tiempo. The settlement lies in Panama's interior, away from the country's principal urban centers.

Geographic data compiled by Mapcarta places the community approximately 460 meters above sea level and estimates its population at about 188 people. Nearby rural settlements include Pitaloza Abajo and Las Niguas.

The community's location within Los Pozos provides geographic context for identifying the earthquake's reported epicenter. Its position in Herrera province also distinguishes the affected area from Panama's larger population centers.

The Colombian Geological Service publicly identified the location and seismic measurements through its account on X. Its updated international earthquake bulletin provided the magnitude, depth and place name associated with the event.

The bulletin was labeled International Seismic Event, Updated Bulletin 1, and carried the local timestamp of 12:56 on October 9, 2026. The agency listed a magnitude of 8.0, a depth of 33 kilometers and Pitaloza Arriba, Panama, as the event's location.

El Tiempo reported that the earthquake was felt in Bogotá and Medellín, extending the reported effects beyond Panama. The publication also identified Pitaloza Arriba as a small rural settlement in Herrera province, based on the geographic information available.