A magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck central Panama on Friday, October 9, 2026, damaging buildings and roads, disrupting flights and prompting President José Raúl Mulino to declare a major disaster before tsunami warnings were lifted.
The shallow quake was centered near Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province and was felt across much of the country, including Panama City, about 200 kilometers away. Images showed collapsed or damaged structures, cracked roads, debris-covered streets and residents evacuating high-rise buildings in the capital. Authorities said the provinces of Herrera, Coclé and Los Santos suffered the most serious damage, while the town of Tonosí was reportedly cut off by road.
The international airport in Panama City was temporarily closed, forcing several flights to divert as officials inspected facilities and assessed safety risks. Schools and government offices also suspended operations, while power outages were reported in several areas. More than a dozen aftershocks followed, including one measured at magnitude 6.6, increasing fears among residents and complicating rescue and inspection efforts.
Early reports indicated no deaths, although at least two people were later reported injured in separate damaged structures. The Panama Canal continued operating normally, and tsunami alerts issued for parts of the eastern Pacific were later canceled.