Magnitude 7.6 Quake Hits Panama, Triggers Pacific Tsunami Alert for Nine Nations
USGS downgrades initial 8.0 estimate; shallow epicenter near La Pitaloza prompts evacuations but no confirmed casualties yet.
KEY POINTS
- Magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck southern Panama at 12:56 p.m. local time on Oct 9, 2026.
- Epicenter near La Pitaloza at 10 km depth; USGS initially estimated 8.0 before downgrading.
- Tsunami threat issued for nine Pacific nations plus Hawaii; Costa Rica later dismissed threat for its coast.
- Evacuations occurred in Panama City; no confirmed casualties or major damage reported initially.
- Magnitude 5.5 aftershock recorded near Bajo Corral 30 minutes later.
A powerful earthquake struck southern Panama on Friday, October 9, 2026, at 12:56 p.m. local time. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) revised the magnitude from an initial 8.0 to 7.6, locating the epicenter near the rural settlement of La Pitaloza at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a threat alert for coastal areas of nine countries: Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico. Hawaii was also placed under a tsunami watch.
“No confirmed casualties or major damage reported in initial assessments.”
Residents in Panama City and neighboring Costa Rica reported strong shaking, prompting evacuations of buildings. Authorities confirmed no immediate reports of deaths, injuries, or major structural damage as assessment teams deployed to the region.
A magnitude 5.5 aftershock struck near Bajo Corral roughly 30 minutes after the main event. Seismic agencies continue to monitor for further activity and coastal sea-level changes.
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