Panama, hit by an earthquake this Friday (9), is located in one of the regions with the greatest seismic activity on the planet: the Pacific Ring of Fire, a strip of approximately 40 thousand kilometers that concentrates around 90% of the earthquakes recorded in the world.
The region follows the edges of the Pacific Ocean and passes through countries such as Chile, Mexico, the United States, Japan and Russia. In addition to earthquakes, it brings together hundreds of active volcanoes.
The explanation lies in the movement of tectonic plates, huge blocks that form the outermost layer of the Earth. Panama is close to where different plates meet, whose movements accumulate tension in the rocks and can cause earthquakes.
But what makes this region so prone to tremors? And why do some earthquakes also cause tsunamis?
The Ring of Fire is an extensive horseshoe-shaped geological strip that follows practically the entire contour of the Pacific Ocean and includes the west coast of the Americas, parts of Asia and Oceania.
The region begins at the southern tip of South America, passes along the Pacific coast of Central America and North America, reaches Alaska and continues towards Russia, Japan, the Philippines and New Zealand.
Along this route, there is a large concentration of geological faults, volcanoes and areas where tectonic plates meet.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Ring of Fire is the most seismically and volcanically active region in the world. In addition to concentrating approximately nine out of every ten earthquakes, the strip is home to around 81% of the largest tremors recorded on the planet.
The explanation lies in the movement of tectonic plates, which make up the outermost rigid part of the Earth. These plates move slowly, usually a few centimeters per year. Depending on the region, they may move apart, slide sideways or collide with each other.
According to the American Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA), when two plates are stuck together by friction, tension can accumulate for years, decades or even centuries. If this tension exceeds the resistance of the rocks, a rupture occurs that releases energy and causes an earthquake.
In the Ring of Fire, one of the most important processes is called subduction, when one tectonic plate dives under another. This movement is associated with both the occurrence of large earthquakes and the formation of volcanoes. Part of the rocky material at depth can undergo melting, giving rise to magma that, under certain conditions, reaches the surface.
Panama occupies a geologically complex position, close to the boundaries between the Cocos, Nazca and Caribbean plates, as well as a tectonic block known as the Panama microplate. On the Pacific coast of Central America, the movement of these structures causes deformations and builds up stress in the rocks, which can be released in the form of earthquakes.
This Friday (9), the Institute of Geosciences at the University of Panama recorded an earthquake of magnitude 7.2, with the epicenter located approximately 39 kilometers northwest of Tonosí. The earthquake occurred at 12:56 pm local time (2:56 pm in Brasília), at an estimated depth of 4 kilometers, considered shallow.
The country's location helps explain why earthquakes are relatively frequent in the region. This does not mean, however, that they all have the same intensity or cause destruction. The effects depend on factors such as magnitude, depth, distance from the epicenter, soil characteristics and resistance of buildings.
Yes, but not every earthquake in this region generates a tsunami. For this to happen, it is generally necessary for a shock on the ocean floor to cause a significant displacement of the water, especially when there is vertical movement of the seabed. The displaced water can form waves capable of crossing great distances and reaching coastal areas very far from the epicenter.
That's what happened in July 2025, when an 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit the Kamchatka Peninsula, in the far east of Russia, and caused a tsunami that reached Japan and Hawaii, in the United States. This does not mean that an earthquake in Panama will necessarily cause a tsunami. The possibility depends on the characteristics of the event and must be evaluated by monitoring bodies.
Although the countries in this range share geological conditions that favor the occurrence of earthquakes, this does not mean that an earthquake in Panama is directly related to another recorded in Japan, Chile or Russia. Each earthquake needs to be analyzed individually, taking into account the geological fault involved, the depth and the movement of the plates in the region.
The occurrence of tremors at different points of the Ring of Fire, even in a short period of time, is not enough to demonstrate a relationship between them. Furthermore, the concentration of earthquakes in this range is part of the natural functioning of Earth's dynamics. The region remains geologically active regardless of the occurrence of major events.
Therefore, experts use monitoring networks to monitor seismic movements and quickly identify the location and intensity of tremors. Despite technological advances, science still cannot accurately predict when, where and with what magnitude an earthquake will occur.
