Panama Quake Hits Penonomé Hotel and Church
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake hit Panama on Friday, damaging a hotel and a church in Penonomé. No deaths are confirmed so far. The post Panama Quake Hits Penonomé Hotel and Church appeared first on The Rio Times .
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck south-central Panama on Friday, 9 October 2026, at 12:56 Panama time (17:56 GMT). The epicentre was near Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province, about 12.6 kilometres below the surface. The quake caused damage to a hotel, a church tower, and a government building in Penonomé, the capital of Coclé province.
No deaths have been confirmed, but several people were injured, including one hit by debris in Penonomé. No deaths were reported at the site. The Panama Canal remained operational, with passengers and staff evacuated from Tocumen International Airport, and flights suspended pending safety checks. Metro lines in Panama City were also suspended for inspection, and afternoon classes were cancelled nationwide.
Damage was reported in several other provinces, including Aguadulce, Veraguas, and Los Santos. Aftershocks followed quickly, including a magnitude 6.0 quake near Tonosí. President José Raúl Mulino urged residents to remain calm.
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