Update, October 11, 2026: The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has revised the magnitude of the earthquake to 7.7 that shook Panama on Friday, October 9, with its epicenter near Pitaloza Arriba at a depth of 12.6 kilometers. Meanwhile, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), part of NOAA, confirmed in its final bulletin on October 9 that the tsunami threat had ended and there was no longer any tsunami danger associated with this earthquake. The information can be found in the updated USGS data and in the final PTWC bulletin.
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake shook Panama on Friday, October 9, 2026, at 12:56 p.m. local time, according to revised data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The strong tremor was recorded near Pitaloza Arriba, in the province of Herrera, and raised concerns about a possible tsunami threat in areas along the Pacific coast.
The USGS placed the epicenter about 12 kilometers west-southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, at a depth of 12.6 kilometers. The magnitude was initially reported as 8.0 and was later revised to 7.6, before being confirmed at 7.7. The parameters of the earthquake were adjusted as specialized agencies analyzed the seismic records.
The tremor was felt even in Panama City, where buildings shook and some people took to the streets after evacuating buildings. The Associated Press reported on these evacuations as residents awaited news about the aftermath of the quake.
NOAA issued an initial advisory for a possible tsunami
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States (NOAA), issued an initial message shortly after the earthquake regarding the possibility of dangerous waves in specific areas along the Pacific coast.
The initial bulletin, released at 18:01 UTC (1:01 p.m. in Panama), included in its assessment coastal areas of Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico. It provided estimated arrival times for a potential first wave at various points along the Panamanian coast, including Punta Mala, Puerto Piña, Punta Burica, and Balboa Heights.
These hours are projections of a possible scenario, not measurements confirming the arrival of a tsunami. An initial warning also does not mean that all the mentioned countries have declared alerts or national evacuations. The threat must be reassessed as specialized agencies receive data on sea level.
The message from the PTWC is directed to national authorities, who are responsible for determining the applicable measures in their territory. To know the most recent assessment, it is necessary to consult the latest bulletins from NOAA and the guidelines from the National System of Civil Protection of Panama (Sinaproc). The initial warning may be modified or canceled; it should not be automatically interpreted as an ongoing alert.
First reports following the earthquake
In its initial report, the Associated Press did not yet have a complete tally of potential victims or material damage. The images and accounts that are starting to circulate on social media must be verified before being attributed to this earthquake.
The risk indicated by the first bulletin refers to areas of the Pacific Ocean. It should not be confused with the warnings that, in other episodes, have affected the Caribbean. In February 2025, for example, CiberCuba reported the cancellation of a tsunami alert in the Caribbean following an earthquake north of Honduras. This was a different incident.
What to do if you find yourself in a coastal area
The NOAA recommends that people located near the sea who have felt a strong or prolonged tremor move away from the coast and seek higher ground or head inland as soon as it is safe to do so, without necessarily waiting for an official warning.
It also advises staying away from beaches, ports, and river mouths, following the instructions of local authorities, and not returning to evacuation areas until they give permission. A tsunami can arrive in several waves, and the first one is not necessarily the largest.
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