USGS · October 12, 2026
Magnitude 6.1 earthquake near Soná, Panama
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake was recorded near 18 km W of Río Grande, Panama on Oct 12, 2026, 06:20 PM (local time at the epicentre — EST, UTC-5), at a depth of about 10.0 km, according to USGS.
USGSFelt by 43 people · community intensity V (moderate)Shaking VIIIPAGER GreenShallow (0–70 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-10-13 00:38 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 6.1 · moment magnitude (W-phase)
- Location
- 18 km W of Río Grande, Panama
- Local time at the epicentre
- Oct 12, 2026, 06:20 PM — EST, UTC-5
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-10-12 23:20 UTC
- Depth
- 10.0 km · Shallow (0–70 km)
- Coordinates
- 7.703, -81.499
- Felt reports
- Felt by 43 people · community intensity V (moderate)
- Estimated shaking
- VIII · Severe
- PAGER impact alert
- Green — No casualties or significant damage expected.
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Significance
- 594 / 1000 · notable event
- Solution quality
- 67 seismic stations used · 127° 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 VIII (Severe): Considerable damage in ordinary buildings; heavy furniture overturned.
People who reported it described intensity V (Moderate): Felt by nearly everyone; unstable objects overturn and some plaster cracks.
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 548 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 128,643 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Río Grande | 18.2 km E | 71 |
| Guarumal | 28.6 km ENE | 477 |
| Calidonia | 30.9 km NNE | 228 |
| La Soledad | 32.1 km NE | — |
| Zapotillo | 33.9 km N | 375 |
| El María | 36.8 km N | 87 |
| Gobernadora | 38.0 km ESE | — |
| Quebrada de Oro | 39.0 km NNE | 73 |
| Soná | 39.5 km NNE | 7,669 |
| Puerto Vidal | 40.2 km NNW | 506 |
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
29 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
M 4.5 7 km WSW of Calidonia, Panama
M 4.5 21 km WNW of Río Grande, Panama
M 4.8 25 km W of Río Grande, PanamaFelt · 1
M 4.5 7 km ESE of Tebario, Panama
M 4.6 0 km NE of Leones Arriba, Panama
M 4.5 27 km W of Río Grande, Panama
M 4.8 31 km W of Río Grande, Panama
M 4.6 18 km WNW of Río Grande, PanamaFelt · 4
M 4.8 11 km SSW of Tebario, Panama
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 18 km W of Río Grande, Panama earthquake?
Magnitude 6.1 (moment magnitude (W-phase)), at a depth of 10.0 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 12, 2026, 06:20 PM (local time at the epicentre — EST, UTC-5). In universal time: 2026-10-12 23:20 UTC.
Was it felt?
Felt by 43 people · community intensity V (moderate). Considerable damage in ordinary buildings; heavy furniture overturned.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Río Grande, 18.2 km E (population 71).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 7.7 (12 km WSW of Pitaloza Arriba, Panama, 2026), and 29 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.