Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Shakes Panama and Triggers Evacuations

A powerful earthquake struck central Panama on Friday, October 9, 2026, shaking buildings in Panama City, forcing residents into the streets and damaging structures in several provinces. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) revised the magnitude to 7.7 after initially reporting 8.0 and later 7.6, while authorities reported injuries and issued tsunami alerts across parts of the Pacific region.

According to the USGS, the earthquake's epicenter was about 10 kilometers southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, a remote community in Herrera province, at a depth of 10 kilometers. Tremors were also felt in neighboring Colombia, and subsequent earthquakes measured magnitude 5.8 and 5.5.

Residents evacuated buildings in the capital, where thousands of people reportedly sought safety outdoors as the shaking affected an area known for its numerous skyscrapers. No damage had been reported in Panama City at the time of the initial assessment, according to Omar Smith of the National Civil Protection Service.

Smith said damage was concentrated in the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos. Several injuries were reported, including one person struck by debris after a building partially collapsed in Penonomé. The district's cathedral, located on the main square, also suffered a partial collapse and cracks, while the governor's office building and the Dos Continentes hotel sustained damage. No fatalities had been reported immediately after the earthquake.

Rosendo Domínguez, 60, who lives in Herrera province, described the shaking and the fear among residents in an interview with The Associated Press.

"We felt it very strongly. It caused objects in the kitchen to fall, but we are fine, although we are very frightened. Everyone is outside, scared." Domínguez said.

The earthquake prompted precautionary measures along Pacific coastlines. The National Weather Service issued tsunami alerts for Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Guatemala, warning that waves could reach between 1 and 3 meters above tide level in some coastal areas of Panama. Alerts also extended to El Salvador and Easter Island, about 3,500 kilometers off the coast of Chile, where the government declared a preventive alert.

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino urged the public to remain calm in a message posted on X on Friday, warning against panic and unrest.

"What happened must not be used to spread panic or provoke unrest," Mulino wrote.

The Panama Canal Authority said operations continued normally along the critical international shipping route. The authority identified the safety of employees, ships and crews as its priority, while specialized technical teams inspected facilities for possible damage.

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella expressed solidarity with Panama and offered assistance through a message on X.

"Panama is not alone! You can count on Colombia's support and our full willingness to provide all the assistance necessary," de la Espriella wrote.

The U.S. Embassy in Panama said it was closely monitoring the earthquake's effects and checking on the well-being of American citizens in the country. Panama lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a roughly 40,000-kilometer arc of volcanoes and geological faults associated with most of the world's earthquakes.