Panama quake aftershocks force residents onto streets
Aftershocks from 7.7‑ and 6.6‑magnitude quakes in central Panama left homes destroyed and people seeking shelter on the streets.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Rural communities in Panama woke up on Saturday to a series of aftershocks that followed two powerful earthquakes, prompting many residents to sleep outdoors, according to reports from the Associated Press and The Independent.
What happened
The initial tremors measured 7.7 and 6.6 on the magnitude scale. The larger shock struck about 10 km (6 mi) southwest of the remote village of Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province, at a depth of roughly 10 km, as recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey. Seismologists at the University of Panama logged dozens of subsequent tremors, including magnitudes of 5.8, 5.5 and 5.2. Buildings near the epicenter collapsed, and a historic Catholic church in La Villa de Los Santos, about 64 km (40 mi) northeast of the epicenter, was reported to have fallen.
What the reports add
The Associated Press noted that the aftershocks rattled towns for several hours and that a vehicle was crushed beneath a collapsed building in Penonomé. The Independent reported that the earlier quake was felt as far away as neighboring Colombia and added that Tocumen International Airport temporarily suspended operations after the first quake before announcing a reopening on Friday afternoon.
What was said
“We’ve been here since 1 p. m. yesterday; we haven’t moved,” said Tony Jiménez, whose home partially collapsed, while seated with relatives under a temporary tent.
“It was a terrible thing. I can tell you with absolute certainty that in my 90 years, I had never experienced anything like it. It was intense—truly intense.” – Tony Jiménez
“Panama’s notably lower toll may be due to the country’s strict building codes, especially governing construction of skyscrapers in the capital.” – Carlos Valdés, head of the Seismology Department at the National Autonomous University of Mexico
“Damage was concentrated in the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos. There were no reports of damage in Panama City, though several injuries have been reported, including one person struck by debris in Penonomé.” – Omar Smith, National Civil Protection Service
How it came about
Panama sits on a complex fault system that regularly generates seismic activity. The recent events follow a pattern of occasional strong quakes in the region, a topic previously covered by Felo News in its analysis of Central American tectonic risks.
Key facts
- Two earthquakes of magnitude 7.7 and 6.6 struck central Panama on Oct. 10, 2026. (independent.co.uk)
- Aftershocks of 5.8, 5.5 and 5.2 magnitude were recorded by the University of Panama. (independent.co.uk)
- Residents of La Villa de Los Santos and surrounding towns slept outdoors after homes and a historic church collapsed. (winnipegfreepress.com)
