PANAMA ROCKED BY TWIN MAJOR QUAKES AS BUILDINGS COLLAPSE AND TSUNAMI WARNINGS SPREAD ACROSS THE PACIFIC
October 10, 2026
Panama was struck by two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.7 and 6.6 in magnitude on Friday, October 9, triggering widespread evacuations, damaging buildings and prompting tsunami warnings across parts of Central and South America, as authorities scrambled to assess the impact of the seismic emergency.
The first earthquake shook the Central American nation on Friday morning, with its epicentre located approximately 10 kilometres southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, a remote community in Herrera province. The United States Geological Survey initially estimated the magnitude at 8 before revising it to 7.6 and subsequently to 7.7. The tremor originated at a shallow depth of around 10 kilometres and was felt as far away as neighbouring Colombia.
A second powerful earthquake measuring 6.6 struck on Friday afternoon, following a series of aftershocks that continued to rattle the country. Seismologists at the University of Panama recorded more than 45 aftershocks, several of which were strong enough to be felt by residents.
The tremors sent frightened residents and office workers rushing outdoors as buildings shook and objects fell inside homes. In Panama City, people gathered in open areas while waiting for information about the damage. Residents in affected regions described intense shaking and widespread fear as emergency services began assessing the situation.
The central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos reported significant damage. In Penonomé, approximately 150 kilometres from the capital, a partially collapsed structure struck and injured a person with falling debris. The cathedral in the town’s main square suffered a partial collapse and developed cracks, while damage was also reported at the governor’s office building and the Dos Continentes hotel. Local media additionally reported the collapse of the historic Church of San Atanasio in Los Santos province, a colonial-era structure recognised as a national historic heritage site in 1938. Large fissures appeared along roads in parts of Veraguas.
Although several injuries were reported, authorities had not immediately confirmed any fatalities. Panama City itself had no reported structural damage at the time of the initial assessment, despite the intensity of the tremors.
The earthquake also disrupted aviation operations. Tocumen International Airport, one of the region’s busiest airports, temporarily suspended operations and activated evacuation procedures while safety inspections were undertaken. The Panama Canal Authority, however, reported that operations along the vital international shipping route were continuing normally, with specialist teams inspecting facilities for possible damage.
The seismic emergency prompted a wider regional response after the National Weather Service issued a tsunami warning for the coasts of Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Guatemala. Authorities warned that waves between one and three metres above normal tide levels could occur in some coastal areas of Panama. Additional alerts were issued for El Salvador, while Chile placed Easter Island, located approximately 3,500 kilometres from the mainland, under a precautionary advisory.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino appealed for calm, warning against spreading panic or creating disorder as emergency agencies worked to establish the extent of the damage. Neighbouring countries expressed solidarity with Panama, while the United States Embassy said it was monitoring developments and checking on the welfare of American citizens in the country.
Panama lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a vast zone of volcanic activity and tectonic faults associated with much of the world's earthquake activity. The interaction of several tectonic plates, including the Cocos, Nazca and Caribbean plates, makes the region particularly vulnerable to seismic events.
The latest earthquakes have revived memories of the destructive 1991 earthquake near Costa Rica, which killed 23 people, injured hundreds and left thousands homeless in Panama’s border region.
With powerful aftershocks continuing and damage assessments under way, the immediate priorities remain public safety, structural inspections and monitoring of coastal conditions. The two major earthquakes have demonstrated the risks posed by shallow seismic activity in a region where densely populated communities, historic buildings and critical transport infrastructure must contend with the threat of sudden ground movement.
