Last Friday, around 1:56 PM Eastern Time, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the coastal area of central Panama, followed by multiple strong aftershocks ranging from 4.8 to 6.6 in magnitude. As of the 11th, over 200 aftershocks have been recorded. The quake caused damage to hundreds of buildings and infrastructure in the central region, leading the government to declare a national state of emergency.
The epicenter of the main quake was located approximately 10 kilometers southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, a remote community in Herrera Province, at a depth of 10 kilometers. Following the earthquake, tsunami warnings were issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center for Ecuador, Colombia, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Peru, and Panama, but later lifted.
There have been no reports of fatalities at this time. Emergency rescue services have stated that at least 27 people have been injured, with nearly 900 buildings damaged. As assessments in remote communities continue, the number of casualties and damaged structures may increase.
The Panamanian Ministry of Economy announced that the emergency declaration allows the government to allocate up to $100 million in relief funds without exceeding the 2026 fiscal deficit target of 3.5% of GDP.
Nestor Luke, the director of the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Panama, told Reuters, “We have recorded over 200 aftershocks, and they are still ongoing, but the magnitudes are decreasing, and the intervals between aftershocks are lengthening.”
US Ambassador Kevin Marino Cabrera stated that the US has committed $5 million in aid and deployed a 20-member team to assist with rescue operations and infrastructure assessments.
President Jose Raul Mulino visited the affected areas to distribute aid and urged for urgent repairs to roads and bridges to facilitate ongoing rescue efforts. At least 14 bridges in Veraguas Province and Los Santos Province have been damaged. All schools nationwide have been closed.
Omar Smith, the director of Panama’s National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC), noted that the damage is concentrated in central provinces such as Veraguas, Los Santos, and Herrera, with no major reports of damage in the capital, Panama City, known for its hundreds of skyscrapers.
Smith confirmed that in Penonome, approximately 150 kilometers from the capital, individuals were struck by debris from partially collapsed buildings. The main square cathedral in the city partially collapsed and developed cracks, and the Governor’s Palace and Dos Continentes Hotel also sustained damage.
Local media reported that the Church of San Atanasio in Los Santos Province collapsed. The colonial-style Catholic church, designated a national historic heritage site in 1938, suffered partial road fractures as well.
The Panama Canal Authority stated that canal operations are functioning normally, with a priority on ensuring the safety of staff, vessels, and crew. A team of experts is inspecting facilities for any damages.
Earthquakes are common in Panama, as the country lies at the intersection of the Cocos Plate, Nazca Plate, and Caribbean Plate, part of the Ring of Fire seismic zone.
The last major earthquake causing widespread damage in the country was in 1991 when a 7.4-magnitude quake near Costa Rica resulted in 23 deaths, 559 injuries, and left thousands homeless in the Bocas del Toro region.
This earthquake evokes memories of several major disasters in South America this year. In June, consecutive 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes in La Guaira, Venezuela, led to over 6,500 fatalities and 17,000 displaced individuals. In August, a 7.4-magnitude quake in Colombia claimed at least 289 lives, leaving tens of thousands homeless.