Massive 8.0-Magnitude Quake Strikes Panama

A magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck Panama at around 1:56 p.m. EST, according to the US Geological Survey. 

Notable quake, preliminary info: M 8.0 – 14 km SW of Pitaloza Arriba, Panama https://t.co/qnQAspzMXy

— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) October 9, 2026

What’s known so far:

Alerts:

Tsunami Info Stmt: M8.0 General Area of Panama 1056 PDT Oct 9: Potential to generate destructive tsunamis; CA,OR,WA,BC,and AK

— NWS Tsunami Alerts (@NWS_NTWC) October 9, 2026

The preliminary epicenter was located about 8.7 miles southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, at a depth of 20.5 miles.

The epicenter is about 122 miles southwest of Panama City. The immediate damage report is unknown. 

Commerical travel is being diverted:

Planes are being diverted from Panama after the M7.6 earthquake that struck Southern Panama https://t.co/aufk5L6mTD

— Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) October 9, 2026

First footage surfacing on X: 

Señor temblor que se acaba de sentir en Ciudad de Panamá. Cc @tvnnoticias https://t.co/Pfe5FP6ZoV

— Freddy Pitti (@freddypitti) October 9, 2026

Llegan más imágenes del Terremoto en Panamá de 7.6 (actualizado en los ultimos minutos) https://t.co/KfxHsI19vb

— Ernesto (@ernestojmro) October 9, 2026

#Atención Un terremoto de magnitud 8.0 se acaba de registrar en Panamá. https://t.co/iYVFfy4lZD

— BluRadio Colombia (@BluRadioCo) October 9, 2026

*Developing…