PANAMA CITY, October 10, 2026 (Agencies) – Panamanian authorities continued assessing damage on Saturday after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the country, triggering a prolonged series of strong aftershocks and causing structural damage across several provinces.
Officials said no deaths had been confirmed as of Friday evening, although damage assessments were still underway and authorities warned the situation could evolve in the coming days. Several injuries were reported, while homes, churches, government buildings, roads and commercial properties sustained damage, particularly in central and southern parts of the country.
The earthquake struck near Pitaloza Arriba in Panama’s Herrera Province at a depth of 12.6 kilometers, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). It was initially reported as magnitude 8.0 before being revised to 7.7.
Authorities reported an intense sequence of aftershocks following the main tremor. René García, director of Panama’s Emergency Operations Center, said nearly 150 aftershocks had been recorded, including a powerful magnitude 6.6 tremor and several others exceeding magnitude 5.0.
Damage was concentrated in the provinces of Herrera, Veraguas and Los Santos, where reports indicated collapsed structures, cracked buildings and damaged roads. In the city of Penonomé, churches and public buildings suffered structural damage, while local media reported damage to historic religious sites in other affected areas.
President José Raúl Mulino declared a major disaster and said emergency teams were working to evaluate affected communities. He acknowledged that the country had been caught off guard by one of the strongest earthquakes to hit Panama in decades.
The quake disrupted transportation and public services across the country. Tocumen International Airport temporarily suspended flights, power outages affected six provinces, and parts of Panama City’s metro system were shut down as a precaution.
Despite the powerful tremors, the Panama Canal remained operational. Canal authorities activated emergency protocols and conducted inspections, reporting no significant disruption to shipping traffic.
A tsunami alert issued shortly after the earthquake was later canceled after monitoring agencies determined the threat had passed.
The USGS described the earthquake as a potentially widespread disaster event, estimating that approximately 4.6 million people experienced moderate to severe shaking. The agency also warned that strong aftershocks could continue in the coming days.
The 7.7-magnitude quake is being described as the strongest earthquake to strike Panama in more than 70 years.