Powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake destroys buildings, roads in Panama; over 80 aftershocks recorded

Panama experienced a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake on October 9, 2026, causing widespread destruction in the country's central region without immediate reports of casualties. The earthquake, felt across Panama, had an epicenter 10 kilometers from the town of Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province. President Jose Raul Mulino declared it a major disaster, with roads collapsing and buildings collapsing in Penonome, a city in Cocle province.

Some roads were entirely destroyed, and local officials reported the town of Tonosi in Los Santos was cut off from the rest of the country. The USGS initially estimated the quake at magnitude-8.0 before revising it to 7.7. A tsunami warning for the eastern Pacific was later lifted. The Panama Canal Authority confirmed that shipping through the canal, which connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, remained unaffected.

Over 80 aftershocks were recorded, one of which had a magnitude above 6.0. The education ministry suspended classes nationwide, and some schools suffered extensive damage. The leaders of Colombia, Ecuador, and Guatemala offered solidarity and aid to Panama.