Disaster: Panama
Key Facts
—Who. Residents of Coclé, Herrera and Los Santos provinces, plus travellers using Panama City and Tocumen airport
—What. A magnitude 7.7 earthquake (US Geological Survey figure) damaged a hotel, a church tower and a government building in Penonomé
—Where. Epicentre near Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province, south-central Panama
—When. Friday 9 October 2026, 12:56 Panama time (17:56 GMT)
—Why it matters. Tocumen airport was evacuated and flights suspended, two Metro lines stopped and dozens of skyscrapers emptied, while the Panama Canal kept working
—As of. 9 October 2026, 20:30 GMT
A strong earthquake shook Panama on Friday afternoon and damaged a hotel and a church in the town of Penonomé. No deaths are confirmed, and the Panama Canal kept ships moving.
What We Know
The earthquake struck at 12:56 Panama time on Friday 9 October 2026, which is 17:56 GMT. The US Geological Survey (USGS) put the magnitude at 7.7 after first reporting 7.6.
The USGS placed the epicentre near Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province, in south-central Panama, at a depth of about 12.6 kilometres. Shallow quakes of this kind tend to shake the ground strongly near the surface.
The Institute of Geosciences of the University of Panama measured a lower 7.2, about 39 kilometres north-west of Tonosí. Some early readings reached 8.0, so figures differ between agencies.
Aftershocks followed quickly. Infobae counted at least 13 in the first 30 minutes, including one of magnitude 6.0 north of Tonosí.
President José Raúl Mulino asked people to stay calm on social media. He wrote: “What happened should not be used to cause alarm or disorder.”
What Is Damaged
Penonomé, the capital of Coclé province, took the clearest damage. A hotel collapsed fully or in part, and Infobae and N Digital name it as Hotel Dos Continentes.
The tower of the Catholic church in Penonomé fell, and the provincial government building, known as the Gobernación, was damaged. One outlet, El Tiempo, calls the church the cathedral and also reports damage to it.
Further west, TVN reports damage to a polyclinic and a church in Aguadulce. Damage was also reported in Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos provinces.
At Tocumen International Airport, all passengers and staff were evacuated and flights were suspended. Reopening depends on safety checks of the terminal and control tower, and no timeline was given.
Two Metro lines in Panama City were suspended for inspection, and afternoon classes were cancelled nationwide. Dozens of skyscrapers in the capital were evacuated.
Reports mention mobile and internet outages. Power cuts were reported in six provinces.
What Is Not Known
No deaths are confirmed so far. Panama’s civil protection agency, Sinaproc, said several people were injured, including one person hit by debris in Penonomé.
Nothing was found on whether anyone is trapped at the hotel or on any rescue work there. The final number of injured and the full scale of structural damage are also unclear.
Agencies have not agreed on one magnitude, and the figures may be revised. It is also unknown when Tocumen airport will reopen and when the Metro lines will return.
On the Panama Canal, the authority said operations were continuing normally. Staff were checking for damage.
What It Means for Travelers and US Readers
The tsunami picture has eased. The US warning system first flagged possible waves for Panama and the coasts of Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru, but La Nación reports the threat was lifted within about an hour.
Coastal visitors should still follow instructions from local officials. Aftershocks can continue for days.
With Tocumen evacuated and flights suspended, US travellers booked to or through Panama City should check flight status with their airline before leaving for the airport. They should also follow guidance from Sinaproc and from the US embassy, and expect further aftershocks in the coming days.
The canal matters to US trade and cruise travel, and operations were continuing normally on Friday. This story will be updated as damage checks continue.
Our earlier report is here: Panama Hit by 7.7 Quake, Tsunami Alert Issued. It covers the first hours after the tremor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How strong was the Panama earthquake?
The US Geological Survey measured magnitude 7.7 at a depth of about 12.6 kilometres. The University of Panama’s geosciences institute measured 7.2, so agency figures differ.
Was anyone killed in the earthquake?
No deaths are confirmed so far. Sinaproc reported several injured, including one person hit by debris in Penonomé.
Is the Panama Canal open after the quake?
The Panama Canal Authority said operations were continuing normally while staff checked for damage. Check for later notices if you depend on a transit.
Is there still a tsunami threat?
The US warning system first flagged possible waves for several Pacific coasts, but La Nación reports the threat was lifted within about an hour. Coastal visitors should still follow local officials.
Sources
TVN Panamá · Infobae · Telemetro · Monumental · La Nación · El Tiempo · USGS
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This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief