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WATCH: 7.7 Earthquake Strikes Panama; Buildings Collapse As Powerful Shaking Caught On Video

Oct 9, 2026

ByTHECOUNT.COM

PANAMA CITY, PANAMA (THECOUNT) — A powerful earthquake reported at magnitude 7.7 struck Panama Friday morning, October 9, 2026, shaking buildings across the Central American country, prompting evacuations and causing structural damage, with dramatic video capturing a cathedral collapsing and part of a hotel facade falling onto a vehicle.

The earthquake was centered near the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province, approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) southwest of the community, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The shallow quake struck at a depth of about 10 kilometers (6 miles).

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The USGS initially reported the earthquake at magnitude 8.0 before revising the measurement. Its current event listing recorded a magnitude of 7.6, while several news reports described the quake as magnitude 7.7.

The powerful shaking was felt in Panama City, where buildings swayed and people rushed outside as a precaution. Residents gathered in the streets while authorities began assessing damage and checking on affected communities.

Video footage broadcast by local news outlets showed a Catholic cathedral collapsing and part of a hotel facade falling onto a car in Penonomé, in Coclé province. Images and videos circulating after the earthquake also showed evacuations, damaged structures and chaotic scenes on roadways.

Despite the extensive shaking and reports of structural damage, no casualties had been reported in the initial Associated Press account. Authorities were continuing to assess the situation, including possible damage in areas closer to the epicenter.

Damage was concentrated in the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos, according to Omar Smith of Panama’s National Civil Protection Service. Officials said they were investigating reports from communities near the epicenter.

The earthquake also prompted tsunami warnings for coastal areas. The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center reported a tsunami threat for Panama and Ecuador, while the Associated Press reported that a warning had been issued for the coasts of Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Guatemala. Residents in affected coastal areas were urged to follow official instructions.

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino called for calm as authorities responded to the emergency. In a message posted on X, he cautioned against spreading alarm or creating disorder in the wake of the disaster.

“What happened should not be used to cause alarm or disorder,” Mulino wrote.

Residents described the frightening intensity of the shaking. Rosendo Domínguez, 60, who was in Herrera province, told the Associated Press that the earthquake knocked items over in his kitchen and left people outside awaiting news.

“We felt it very strongly. It knocked things over in the kitchen, but we’re okay, though we’re very scared,” Domínguez said.

Aftershocks followed the main earthquake, with the USGS recording two measuring magnitudes 5.8 and 5.5 in its initial reporting. Officials continued monitoring seismic activity as damage assessments proceeded.

Panama lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, an extensive zone of tectonic activity surrounding much of the Pacific Ocean basin. The region experiences earthquakes due to the movement and interaction of tectonic plates, making preparedness and rapid emergency assessments particularly important after a major event.

Pitaloza Arriba is located in Herrera province in central Panama, while Penonomé lies in neighboring Coclé province. Panama City, the country’s capital and largest urban center, is farther east and also experienced strong shaking during the earthquake.

Google Maps: Pitaloza Arriba, Herrera province, Panama

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