USGS · October 9, 2026
Magnitude 7.7 earthquake near Pitaloza Arriba, Panama
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake was recorded near 12 km WSW of Pitaloza Arriba, Panama on Oct 9, 2026, 12:56 PM (local time at the epicentre — EST, UTC-5), at a depth of about 12.6 km, according to USGS.
USGSFelt by 498 people · community intensity IX (violent)Shaking IXPAGER RedShallow (0–70 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-10-09 19:37 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 7.7 · moment magnitude (W-phase)
- Location
- 12 km WSW of Pitaloza Arriba, Panama
- Local time at the epicentre
- Oct 9, 2026, 12:56 PM — EST, UTC-5
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-10-09 17:56 UTC
- Depth
- 12.6 km · Shallow (0–70 km)
- Coordinates
- 7.587, -80.769
- Felt reports
- Felt by 498 people · community intensity IX (violent)
- Estimated shaking
- IX · Violent
- PAGER impact alert
- Red — A national or international response is likely: high casualties and extensive damage are probable.
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Significance
- 2423 / 1000 · major event
- Solution quality
- 108 seismic stations used · 45° azimuthal gap (well-constrained epicentre)
- Review status
- Reviewed by a seismologist
- Catalog
- USGS
Epicentre and nearby recent earthquakes
The highlighted circle is this earthquake. Smaller circles are other events recorded nearby in the last 30 days.
What the shaking was like
Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.
Estimated instrumental shaking IX (Violent): Heavy damage; well-built structures are seriously affected.
People who reported it described intensity IX (Violent): Heavy damage; well-built structures are seriously affected.
Felt it yourself? USGS collects first-hand reports through “Did You Feel It?”, and those reports are what produce the community intensity above.
Who lives nearby
About 8,158 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 260,387 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Pitaloza Arriba | 12.6 km ENE | 188 |
| Quebrada del Rosario | 14.3 km NNE | 123 |
| Quebrada del Rosario Arriba | 14.9 km NNE | — |
| Bajos de Güera | 16.4 km ESE | — |
| El Cedro | 16.6 km NE | 170 |
| Altos de Güera | 17.5 km ESE | — |
| Los Cerros de Paja | 18.4 km NE | 61 |
| La Mesa | 18.5 km ENE | 392 |
| El Capurí | 20.8 km NE | 124 |
| Quebro | 20.9 km SW | 111 |
Earthquake history in this area
12 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5+ have been recorded within 200 km of this epicentre since 1960.
Other earthquakes near this epicentre
6 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
Be first to know about the next earthquake near 12 km WSW of Pitaloza Arriba, Panama
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 12 km WSW of Pitaloza Arriba, Panama earthquake?
Magnitude 7.7 (moment magnitude (W-phase)), at a depth of 12.6 km. Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.
Exactly when did it happen?
Oct 9, 2026, 12:56 PM (local time at the epicentre — EST, UTC-5). In universal time: 2026-10-09 17:56 UTC.
Was it felt?
Felt by 498 people · community intensity IX (violent). Heavy damage; well-built structures are seriously affected.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Pitaloza Arriba, 12.6 km ENE (population 188).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 8.0 (14 km SW of Pitaloza Arriba, Panama, 2026), and 6 further events were recorded within 100 km in the last 30 days.
How do I get alerts for the next earthquake here?
Install the free SeismoWatch Android app, draw a box over this area, set a minimum magnitude, and turn alerts on.
About this page
Event data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), in Venezuela FUNVISIS and in Brazil the RSBR through the Centro de Sismologia da USP. Populated places and time zones: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Preliminary solutions are revised as more observations arrive.