Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Strikes Panama, Injuring Dozens

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama on Friday, October 9, causing damage to buildings and roads, injuring at least 27 people, and prompting tsunami warnings along the Pacific coast.

The earthquake occurred at 12:56 p.m. local time, with its epicenter about 10 kilometers southwest of Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province at a depth of 10 kilometers. The shallow tremor was felt across the Central American nation, with damage concentrated in the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera, and Los Santos. In Penonomé, a cathedral partially collapsed, and a hotel sustained facade damage.

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino stated that authorities had not documented any deaths as of Friday evening but cautioned that the situation could change as assessments continued. The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported the earthquake as magnitude 8, then revised it to 7.6 and later to 7.7. The earthquake was followed by dozens of aftershocks, including tremors measuring magnitudes 5.8, 5.5, and 5.2.

Seismologists at the University of Panama recorded over 45 aftershocks. Tsunami warnings were issued for the Pacific coasts of Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala, but were later lifted. Tocumen International Airport briefly suspended operations before reopening, while the Panama Canal continued operating normally. The earthquake was felt as far away as Colombia.