Powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake strikes Panama, triggering evacuations
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit southern Panama on Friday, shaking buildings in Panama City and triggering temporary tsunami alerts across Central America's Pacific coast.
A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck southern Panama on Friday at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres, according to the United States Geological Survey. The epicenter was located near Pitaloza Arriba, with tremors felt across the country, including in Panama City and neighboring Costa Rica.
While seismic agencies initially measured the quake as high as magnitude 8.0 before adjusting the figure, no immediate fatalities were reported. In the capital, hundreds of residents evacuated high-rise buildings following intense shaking. Local reports indicated minor structural damage, including cracked walls and debris on streets, followed by a magnitude 6.0 aftershock.
Early assessments from the U.S. Tsunami Warning System flagged potential wave threats for Central America's Pacific coastline, though initial alerts were later re-evaluated as emergency services assessed the situation.
Sources: ANSA, France24, La Repubblica, Le Monde, ORF.
Sources
- ORF — Schweres Erdbeben erschüttert Panama
- Le Monde — Le Panama secoué par un puissant séisme ; une alerte tsunami lancée dans l’est du Pacifique, par l’agence de sismologie américaine
- La Repubblica — Panama, scossa di magnitudo 7,6: allerta tsunami. Scene di panico nella capitale
- France24 — 🔴 Powerful 7.6 magnitude quake shakes Panama, triggering tsunami warning
- ANSA — Terremoto di magnitudo 7.6 a Panama, gli Usa escludono il rischio tsunami
Earlier coverage
- Oct 10, 2026, 04:30 AM UTCPowerful earthquake off Panama triggers regional tsunami alerts
- Oct 10, 2026, 03:00 AM UTCTsunami warnings issued across Latin America following powerful Panama earthquakes