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7.7 Earthquake Shakes Panama, Triggers Tsunami Alerts

By Drooid · Oct 9, 2026, 10:08 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Panama Shaken

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama with epicenter 10 km southwest of Pitaloza Arriba at 10 km depth.
The quake was felt by 4.5-4.6 million people, including residents of Panama City.
Aftershocks of magnitude 5.5 and 5.8 followed by several 4.8-5.0 events within two hours.
U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued alerts for Panama and eight neighboring countries.
President José Raúl Mulino urged calm on X and said the event should not cause alarm.

Summary

Ministry Closes Schools

Canal authorities said the Panama Canal stayed fully operational after the quake.
The Ministry of Education ordered nationwide school closures following the tremor.
Two Panama City Metro lines halted temporarily for safety inspections.
Chile’s navy issued a tsunami alert, adding regional caution.
Officials scheduled a national earthquake evacuation drill for Monday.

History

Historical Context

On April 18 1906 a magnitude 7.9 earthquake shattered San Francisco, killing over 3,000 people and destroying more than 80 % of the city. The disaster prompted federal research on the San Andreas fault. Today a 7.7-magnitude tremor in Panama has triggered alerts from the Panama Canal Authority and other agencies, echoing the historic push for resilient infrastructure.

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Panama Shaken

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama with epicenter 10 km southwest of Pitaloza Arriba at 10 km depth.
The quake was felt by 4.5-4.6 million people, including residents of Panama City.
Aftershocks of magnitude 5.5 and 5.8 followed by several 4.8-5.0 events within two hours.
U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued alerts for Panama and eight neighboring countries.
President José Raúl Mulino urged calm on X and said the event should not cause alarm.

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