Magnitude 7.6 earthquake strikes Panama, triggers tsunami warning

A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck Panama on October 9, 2026, triggering tsunami warnings along the west coast of Central and South America. The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported the earthquake was centered approximately 14 kilometers (9 miles) southwest of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba, on Panama’s southern coast.The Institute of Geosciences of the University of Panama stated the quake hit just before 1 PM local time near the southern town of Tonosí. A second 6.0 magnitude earthquake followed at 1:22 PM, and by 1:30 PM, 13 aftershocks had been reported. More than 45 aftershocks were recorded subsequently.Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino urged citizens to remain calm, stating that the incident should not be used to generate alarm or disorder. Local newspaper La Prensa reported that buildings, schools, and homes across the Central American nation were evacuated due to the powerful tremors.Footage published by La Prensa showed severe damage to several buildings in the city of Penonomé, including the St John Baptist Cathedral. Images also revealed a highway west of the capital that had been completely sheared in half by the earthquake.Omar Smith, director of the National Civil Protection Service, confirmed that damage was concentrated in the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera, and Los Santos. He noted there were no reports of damage in the capital, Panama City. Smith reported several injuries, including one person struck by debris from a partially collapsed structure in Penonomé, about 150 kilometers (93 miles) from the capital. He also confirmed partial collapse and cracks at the cathedral in the district’s main square, as well as damage to the governor’s office building and the Dos Continentes hotel.The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued a tsunami warning for Panama’s coast but later confirmed the threat had passed. The Panama Canal Authority stated that shipping through the canal remained unaffected and was operating normally.Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, a major hub for the region, was temporarily closed. Several flights were diverted to other airports as a precaution, according to the Civil Aeronautics Authority.The USGS Pager site showed a yellow alert for earthquake-related fatalities, indicating some casualties are possible. For estimated economic losses, the USGS site showed a red alert, stating that “widespread damage is possible and the disaster is likely to be widespread.” The USGS added that “estimated losses are 0-9% of Panama’s GDP. Past events with this alert level have required a national or international level response.”