Two powerful earthquakes and more than 45 aftershocks struck Panama on Friday, October 9, 2026, causing building collapses in the country’s central provinces and triggering regional tsunami warnings. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the first earthquake measured magnitude 7.7, followed by a magnitude 6.6 quake and subsequent aftershocks measuring as high as 5.8.
The initial magnitude 7.7 quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), centered near the community of Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province. The National Civil Protection Service stated that damage was most severe in the provinces of Veraguas, Herrera, and Los Santos, where roadways developed fissures and buildings sustained structural failures. The colonial-style Church of San Atanasio in Los Santos, a National Historic Heritage Site since 1938, reportedly collapsed.
Omar Smith of the National Civil Protection Service confirmed several injuries, including one person struck by falling debris in Penonomé. Structural damage was reported at the Penonomé cathedral, the governor’s office, and the Dos Continentes hotel. In Panama City, Tocumen International Airport temporarily suspended operations to activate evacuation plans, while the Panama Canal Authority reported that shipping operations continued normally.
For the American retirees living in Panama, the U.S. Embassy confirmed it is monitoring their welfare following the tremors. Residents in the affected central provinces saw immediate changes to their day-to-day lives as roadway fissures blocked transportation and debris from collapsed structures created physical hazards. While the Panama Canal remained operational, technical inspections for its facilities underscore the potential for disruption to a trade route that handles significant global maritime traffic.
The event follows other seismic activity in the region, including two June earthquakes in Venezuela that killed more than 6,500 people and an August quake in Colombia that killed at least 29. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino has called for public calm to prevent disorder. By Friday evening, the tsunami warnings for the Pacific coast had been lifted. Technical teams continue to inspect critical infrastructure, and airport operations began reopening Friday afternoon.
WHO: Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the National Civil Protection Service WHAT: Two powerful earthquakes and numerous aftershocks struck Panama, causing building collapses and injuries in central provinces and triggering regional tsunami warnings. WHEN: Friday, October 9, 2026 WHERE: Panama, specifically the provinces of Herrera, Veraguas, and Los Santos WHY: Tectonic plate interactions along the Pacific "Ring of Fire" caused the seismic activity, resulting in structural damage to historic sites and temporary infrastructure closures.