10/09/2026

Samuel Clifford 

On October 9, 2026 at approximately 1:56 pm EST a 7.6 magnitude earthquake rocked the country of Panama. It occurred at a depth of around 21 miles and was around 14km southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, Panama. As of 2:21 pm EST tsunami warnings have been issued for Ecuador, Colombia, Nicaragua, Panama, Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Initially the earthquake was categorized at a 8.0 magnitude but was downscaled to 7.6 around 15 minutes after it occurred. 

Tremors were felt in Panama City, where buildings shook and citizens evacuated into the streets. Citizens gathered outside as they waited for news of the quake’s impact. Aftershocks of around 3.4, 5.2, and 5.8 in magnitude have also been reported. 

“Panama Earthquake Magnitude 8 Strikes Near Pitaloza.” Mirror, 9 Oct. 2026, https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/panama-earthquake-magnitude-8-pitaloza-37756275. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Reuters. “Strong 8.0-Magnitude Earthquake Felt in Panama, USGS Says.” Reuters, 9 Oct. 2026, https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/strong-80-magnitude-earthquake-felt-panama-usgs-2026-10-09/. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.