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Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes offshore southern Panama

Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes offshore southern Panama

Built World

State of emergency in Panama; 27 injured, 820+ homes damaged, 200+ aftershocks

October 11th, 2026: Aftershock count passes 200; magnitude revised to 7.6

Overview

Updated Oct 28

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck southern Panama on October 9, 2026, at 17:56 UTC, centered 12 kilometers west-southwest of Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province at a depth of 12.6 kilometers. The U.S. Geological Survey first reported it as magnitude 8.0, then revised it to 7.7; Panama's Institute of Geosciences put it at 7.6.

Panama declared a state of emergency on October 10. Officials count 27 injuries and no deaths, with more than 820 homes and 419 schools damaged across ten provinces and two Indigenous territories. More than 200 aftershocks have followed, and the U.S. pledged $5 million in assistance.

Why it matters

A magnitude 7.7 quake in this subduction zone can generate a tsunami on Pacific coasts and cause severe damage across southern Panama and Costa Rica.

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Key Indicators

7.7
Earthquake magnitude
USGS revised from an initial 8.0; Panama's Institute of Geosciences put it at 7.6.
12.6 km
Hypocenter depth
USGS lists 12.6 km; early wire reports cited about 6 miles (roughly 10 km).
27
People injured
Reported by SINAPROC, with injuries ranging from minor to moderate; no deaths reported.
820+
Homes damaged
SINAPROC count as of October 11, up from about 420 on October 10; 419 schools and 29 health facilities also damaged.
200+
Aftershocks recorded
Counted by the University of Panama's Institute of Geosciences, five of them magnitude 6.0 or above.

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People Involved

Juan Carlos Orillac
Juan Carlos Orillac
Presidential Minister of Panama
Announced the state of emergency on October 10
MR
Malitzie Rivera
Deputy Director, National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC)
Reported 27 injuries and the official damage tally
 José Raúl Mulino
José Raúl Mulino
President of Panama
Visited affected areas to deliver aid and called for urgent repairs to roads and bridges
NL
Nestor Luke
Director, University of Panama's Institute of Geosciences
Reported more than 200 aftershocks following the October 9 main shock

Organizations Involved

United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
Federal science agency
Reported the M 7.7 earthquake and the M 6.6 aftershock; monitors the ongoing sequence

The USGS National Earthquake Information Center reported the M 7.7 event and tracks the aftershock sequence.
IG
Instituto Geográfico Nacional Tommy Guardia
National geographic and seismological institute
Panama's national geographic institute; the aftershock counts cited in this story come from the University of Panama's geosciences institute

Panama's national geographic and cartographic agency. The aftershock and magnitude figures in this story come from a separate body, the University of Panama's Institute of Geosciences.
European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre
European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre
International seismological organization
Independent seismic monitoring network

EMSC reported the M 3.7 earthquake on October 8 and provides independent seismic monitoring for the region.
NC
National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC)
National civil protection agency
Conducting damage assessments; reported 820+ homes damaged as of October 11

Panama's SINAPROC is the national civil protection agency running the earthquake response.

Timeline

12 events Latest: October 11th, 2026 · 1 month ago Showing 8 of 12
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Aftershock count passes 200; magnitude revised to 7.6

    Latest Seismic Event

    The University of Panama's Institute of Geosciences revised the main shock to magnitude 7.6 and recorded more than 200 aftershocks, five of them magnitude 6.0 or above.

  2. Damage assessments show 820+ homes damaged

    Assessment

    SINAPROC reported more than 820 damaged homes, 29 affected health facilities and 419 affected schools across ten provinces and two Indigenous territories. Six communities in Los Santos and Herrera remained cut off.

  3. US pledges $5 million in assistance

    International Response

    The U.S. pledged $5 million in humanitarian assistance and is sending a 20-member team to help with rescue operations and infrastructure assessments.

  4. Classes suspended nationwide for Monday

    Government Response

    MEDUCA cancelled classes at all public and private schools on Monday, October 12. SINAPROC called off the third national emergency drill, and a rain warning was in effect until 1:00 p.m.

  5. Panama declares state of emergency

    Government Response

    Presidential Minister Juan Carlos Orillac announced the emergency as aftershocks continued. Officials reported 27 injuries and no deaths, with about 420 homes and a similar number of public schools damaged, plus 7 hotels, 13 churches and 9 bridges affected.

  6. More than 100 aftershocks recorded

    Seismic Event

    Seismologists recorded more than 100 aftershocks, including ones measuring magnitude 5.8, 5.5 and 5.2, after the M 7.7 main shock and the M 6.6 event that struck about 2.5 hours later.

  7. M 3.0 earthquake on Panama-Costa Rica border

    Seismic Event

    A magnitude 3.0 quake struck the Panama-Costa Rica border region at 14 km depth.

  8. M 7.7 earthquake strikes offshore southern Panama

    Seismic Event

    A magnitude 7.7 quake hit 12 km west-southwest of Pitaloza Arriba at a depth of 12.6 kilometers, shortly before 1 p.m. local time.

  9. Tsunami warning lifted after no damaging waves

    Government Response

    The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center lifted the warning issued for Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Guatemala, and alerts from El Salvador and Chile for Easter Island were also lifted.

  10. Panama Canal and Tocumen airport resume normal operations

    Infrastructure

    The Panama Canal Authority said the canal was operating normally and ships were passing through after inspections. Tocumen International Airport, which suspended operations after the first quake, reopened hours later, and the Cobre Panama copper mine reported normal operations.

  11. M 3.7 earthquake southwest of David

    Seismic Event

    A magnitude 3.7 quake struck 55 km southwest of David at 14 km depth.

  12. M 5.0 earthquake south of Burica Peninsula

    Seismic Event

    A magnitude 5.0 quake struck 295 km south of Burica, Panama, at 10 km depth.

Scenarios

1

Tsunami warning issued, coastal damage reported

Deadline passed (Oct 10, 2026)

Discussed by: Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, NOAA

An M 7.7 at 33 km depth in a subduction zone is capable of generating a significant tsunami. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center would issue warnings for Pacific coastlines from Mexico to Colombia. Wave heights and coastal flooding would be measured within hours.

2

Significant casualties and infrastructure damage in Panama

Deadline passed (Oct 16, 2026)

Discussed by: SINAPROC (Panama's national civil protection system), USGS PAGER

An M 7.7 would produce strong to severe shaking across southern Panama. The USGS PAGER system would estimate casualties and economic losses. Panamanian authorities would report damage to buildings, roads, and ports in the affected region.

3

Aftershock sequence includes additional M 6+ events

Deadline passed (Nov 9, 2026)

Discussed by: USGS, EMSC

After an M 7.7 megathrust event, the aftershock sequence typically includes multiple M 6 and possibly M 7 events in the following days and weeks. The USGS would catalog these events and update its aftershock forecast.

4

Panama begins long recovery; damaged buildings face repair or demolition

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: SINAPROC, Panama's Ministry of Public Works

With about 420 homes and a similar number of public schools damaged across ten provinces and two Indigenous territories, the government will need to assess which buildings can be repaired and which must come down. The state of emergency lets the government direct resources to the response, including shelter for the displaced, such as the 13 people housed in Penonomé.

5

Damage count rises as assessments reach cut-off communities

Deadline passed (Oct 31, 2026)

Discussed by: SINAPROC

Officials caution the damage figure could rise as assessment teams reach remote communities. Six communities in Los Santos and Herrera remain cut off by damaged roads. The final count depends on when these areas are reached.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

April 1983

Osa-Burica earthquake (1983)

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the Osa-Burica region on the Costa Rica-Panama border, a thrust-type event from the subduction of the Cocos plate beneath the Panama microplate.

Then

The quake caused significant damage in the border region and was felt across southern Costa Rica and western Panama.

Now

It remains one of the largest recorded earthquakes in the region and a reference point for seismic hazard assessment.

Why this matters now

The 1983 event occurred in the same subduction system as the 2026 M 7.7.

July 1934

Panama Fracture Zone earthquake (1934)

A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck along the Panama Fracture Zone, the transform boundary between the Cocos and Nazca plates, producing a large strike-slip event.

Then

The quake was felt across the region and caused damage in coastal areas.

Now

It demonstrated the seismic hazard posed by the fracture zone, which remains active today.

Why this matters now

The 1934 event is the main historical comparison for the 2026 M 7.7 in the same region.

May-June 2019

Laurel and Manaca earthquakes (2019)

Two strong earthquakes, magnitude 6.0 on May 12 and magnitude 6.2 on June 26, struck near the Costa Rica-Panama border, with epicenters on the continent near Laurel and Manaca Civil, Chiriquí.

Then

Both events were strongly felt by residents near the border, reaching intensity V-VI on the Modified Mercalli Scale, without casualties or major structural damage.

Now

Detailed study of these events revealed the complex transition from subduction to strike-slip motion at the Panama Triple Junction.

Why this matters now

The 2019 events provided the most recent detailed picture of the region's tectonic complexity before the 2026 M 7.7.

Sources

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USGS VolcanoDiscovery VolcanoYT Quake Pulse ScienceDirect San Salvador Times Newser (AP) The Journal (AP) The Straits Times AFP Earthquake Insights CBC News Morning Overview ReliefWeb The Business Standard Gulf Times HNGN Boston Globe (AP) VolcanoYT Quake Pulse