7.7-magnitude earthquake strikes Panama; US deploys rescue team

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck southern Panama on October 9, 2026, at approximately 12:56 p.m. local time (1756 GMT), with its epicenter located about 39 kilometers northwest of Tonosi in Los Santos province, according to the University of Panama's Institute of Geosciences. The US Geological Survey initially reported the magnitude as 8.0, later revising it to 7.7. The quake, which lasted approximately one minute at a depth of between 4 and 12.6 kilometers, was felt strongly throughout the country, including in Panama City over 200 kilometers away, triggering panic as thousands evacuated from buildings into streets and open spaces.

The earthquake triggered at least 40 aftershocks, including a 6.9-magnitude event and several measuring above 6.0 magnitude, with one report citing 147 total aftershocks recorded by the Emergency Operations Center. According to initial reports, several people sustained minor injuries, but authorities reported no deaths or missing persons as of late Friday. Structural damage was concentrated in the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera, and Los Santos, with the colonial-style Church of San Atanasio in Los Santos province collapsing. Additional damage included partial collapses at a cathedral in Los Santos, the Dos Continentes hotel, and the governor's office building. In Penonome, approximately 70 miles from the epicenter, a multi-story building collapsed, crushing vehicles beneath it. The USGS estimated approximately 43,000 Panamanians lived in areas with at least severe exposure to the quake, and economic losses could range from 1% to 10% of Panama's gross domestic product.

Public services experienced significant disruptions. The national water and sewer authority reported that power failures halted or reduced production at several water treatment plants across the country. Panama City's metro system suspended service on two lines and evacuated passengers. Electricity provider Naturgy reported outages in six provinces. Tocumen International Airport briefly suspended operations and evacuated passengers before resuming flights later in the day. The Education Ministry canceled afternoon classes nationwide and closed administrative offices. President José Raúl Mulino declared the situation a "major disaster," noting that some roads had "completely collapsed," and instructed the minister of government to provide impact assessments while mobilizing government resources to affected areas.

The Panama Canal Authority activated emergency protocols and conducted facility inspections, reporting that canal operations continued normally. The Centennial Bridge's suspension cables were observed shaking as vehicles crossed. The US Tsunami Warning System issued a regional tsunami alert warning of possible hazardous waves along coasts of Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico within three hours, and also reported a threat to Hawaii. Chile's Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service issued an alert regarding potential tsunami effects on Easter Island. The warning was lifted later on Friday afternoon.

In response to the earthquake, the US State Department deployed the Los Angeles County Fire Department's international Urban Search and Rescue team, designated USA-2, to Panama late Friday night. The 10-member team comprises six firefighters, three structural engineers, and one physician from the LA County Department of Health Services. The team, described as "world experts in rescuing in collapsed buildings," planned a minimum two-week deployment to assist Panamanian authorities with search and rescue operations. The Los Angeles County team had previously been deployed to Venezuela and Colombia earlier in 2026 following deadly earthquakes in those countries. Regional leaders, including those from Venezuela and Colombia, offered assistance to Panama's government.