Panama earthquake: VIDEO shows bridge cables moving during tremor
Quick Look
- A 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit Panama this Friday (9), with its epicenter in the rural community of La Pitaloza, in the south of the country.
- The tremor was felt in Panama City and Costa Rica, causing partial damage to buildings, the suspension of classes in southern provinces, a fire in the port of Colón and the preventive closure of the capital's airport.
- Until the last update, there was no confirmed information about victims.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Panama is located in an active seismic zone, close to the border between the Cocos and Caribbean tectonic plates, which makes the country vulnerable to earthquakes. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) monitors and releases data on global seismic activity.
A strong earthquake, of magnitude 7.7, hit Panama this Friday (9), activating the tsunami risk alert. During the earthquake that hit the country, a local resident filmed cables on a bridge shaking while several cars crossed. (See video above)
The tremor was strongly felt in Panama City and neighboring Costa Rica, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter occurred on land, in the south of the country, in the rural community of La Pitaloza, a sparsely populated area.
The depth of the tremor was shallow, 12 kilometers from the surface, which increases the intensity on land. There are reports of partially collapsed buildings and towers in the south (read more below).
SEE ALSO
Map shows epicenter of the strong 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit Panama on October 9, 2026. — Photo: arte/ g1
Initially, the USGS had recorded a magnitude of 8.0, but later revised the intensity to 7.7.
The earthquake happened at 2:56 pm Brasília time. About half an hour later, a second tremor, of magnitude 5.5, was also recorded further south of the country, in the town of Bajo Corral. In total, at least 6 replicas were recorded.
Damage and victims
There was still no information about damage or victims until the last update of this report.
On social media, however, residents and the country's press showed scenes of destruction. In the city of Penonomé, one of the hardest hit, part of a hotel in the city of Penonomé collapsed (see below).
Local media reported that the tower of a cathedral in the city of Santiago also collapsed.
In several southern provinces, classes were suspended.
In the city of Colón, near the Panama Canal, a huge fire hit port facilities. The Panama Canal Authority reported that the waterway continued to operate normally, despite the tremor.
There was no record of damage in Panama City until the last update of this report. But hundreds of people took to the streets, frightened by the main tremor and the aftershocks that hit the country.
The capital's airport was closed as a precaution. Images also showed people on the airport runway after the tremor.
People take to the streets in Panama City after the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit the country on October 9, 2026. — Photo: Enea Lebrun/ Reuters
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Further updates on damage and casualties will be released by local authorities within the next 24 hours.
Very likely · Within hours
Suspended classes in southern provinces must remain suspended as long as there is a risk of replicas or structural damage to schools.
Likely · Within days
Open Questions
- Is there confirmation of fatalities or injuries?
- What is the full extent of structural damage to buildings and infrastructure?
- Did the Panama Canal suffer any operational impact despite the declaration of normality?
- Is there a need for international humanitarian assistance?
