7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southern Panama, Damaging Buildings and Triggering Aftershocks

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck southern Panama on October 9 at 12:56 p.m. local time, centered about 12 kilometers west-southwest of Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province at a depth of 12.6 kilometers. The U.S. Geological Survey initially registered a higher magnitude before revising it to 7.7. The shallow tremor was felt across the country of roughly 4.5 million people.

President José Raúl Mulino described the event as a major disaster and said some roads had completely collapsed. At least 27 people were injured, according to local reports, with no deaths confirmed. More than 80 aftershocks, including one above magnitude 6.0, followed the main shock. Power was disrupted in six provinces, and Tocumen International Airport suspended flights for several hours before resuming operations.

The Panama Canal Authority reported that shipping through the waterway continued without interruption. The Cobre Panama copper mine also maintained normal operations. Structural damage was reported to homes, roads, hotels, government buildings, businesses and churches, particularly in Herrera, Coclé and Los Santos provinces. In Panama City, residents evacuated high-rise buildings, and water was observed cascading from a rooftop pool on a tall structure.

USGS estimated that about 43,000 people lived in areas of severe exposure and that economic losses could reach 1 to 10 percent of Panama’s gross domestic product. Approximately 4.6 million people experienced moderate to severe shaking. A tsunami warning was issued for several neighboring countries but was later lifted after no significant waves developed. The U.S. National Weather Service confirmed no tsunami threat to the United States.

Civil protection officials said the most affected areas were near the epicenter. Elderly residents in Herrera province described cracked homes and fear of further collapse. More than 40 aftershocks were recorded in the hours after the main event, with some reaching magnitude 6.6. Authorities delayed detailed structural inspections until the aftershock sequence subsided.

Panama lies near the boundary of the Caribbean and Cocos plates, though large earthquakes are relatively uncommon in the country. The event occurred just days before a planned national evacuation drill. Health Minister Fernando Boyd identified Herrera, Coclé and Los Santos as the hardest-hit provinces. In the capital, buildings swayed and people gathered in streets as successive tremors continued.

International flights resumed gradually at Tocumen, a major regional hub. Local electricity provider Naturgy reported outages across multiple provinces. President Mulino traveled to affected areas to coordinate response efforts. The USGS PAGER system indicated a red alert for potential significant losses, though early reports suggested the sparse population near the epicenter limited the immediate casualty count.

By Saturday, aftershocks continued but at lower magnitudes. Officials urged residents to remain cautious around damaged structures. The combination of the main shock and the extended aftershock sequence has left communities assessing cracked walls, fallen debris and interrupted services while the critical canal infrastructure remained operational throughout.