Panama records more than 200 aftershocks following earthquake
Relief efforts continue after an earthquake and aftershocks damaged hundreds of homes and infrastructure.
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Panama has recorded more than 200 aftershocks since Friday’s powerful earthquake. The government has declared a state of emergency; according to the latest reports, 27 people have been injured and no one has died.
The aftershocks followed an earthquake that the United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimated at magnitude 7.7. The epicentre was reportedly near Pitaloza Arriba, in Herrera province, at a depth of approximately 12.6 kilometres, according to the US agency. The tremor was also felt in Panama City and neighbouring Colombia.
The director of the Geoscientific Institute of the University of Panama told Reuters that the aftershocks are weakening and that more time is passing between tremors. That does not mean the seismic risk has passed: emergency services and residents continue to anticipate further damage to weakened buildings.
The damage is concentrated mainly in the provinces of Veraguas, Herrera, Coclé and Los Santos. Panama’s civil protection agency previously told AP that approximately 420 homes had been damaged and about the same number of public schools had been affected. Reuters reported a higher interim figure of nearly 900 damaged homes on Sunday. The inventory is still under way, particularly in remote areas.
Roads and bridges have also been affected. Reuters referred to at least 14 damaged bridges; AP reported in an earlier count that nine bridges had been affected. The differences show that the extent of the damage has not yet been definitively established. According to AP, hotels, churches, healthcare facilities and government buildings have also been damaged.
The government declared a national state of emergency on Saturday to organise aid more quickly. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, this allows up to 100 million dollars in emergency aid to be released without exceeding the 3.5 per cent budget-deficit target as a proportion of gross domestic product for 2026.
Schools will remain closed across the country on Monday. President José Raúl Mulino visited affected areas and called for roads and bridges to be repaired quickly. According to Reuters, the United States has pledged five million dollars in aid and is sending a team for rescue work and inspections.
The Panama Canal Authority says shipping through the Panama Canal is continuing normally. The organisation is having technical teams inspect the facilities. The authorities have so far reported no fatalities, but warn that both the damage and injury counts may still change. Scientific institutes also differ over the precise magnitude and depth of the main earthquake; the current aftershock count is based on the latest report from the University of Panama.
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The article’s central claims are confirmed by Reuters, AP and the USGS. Differences in damage figures and seismological measurements are explicitly presented as provisional or divergent estimates.
- confirmed Panama recorded more than 200 aftershocks on 11 October following the earthquake. — Reuters quotes the director of the Geoscientific Institute of the University of Panama. source
- confirmed According to the USGS, the main earthquake had a magnitude of 7.7 and occurred near Pitaloza Arriba. — The USGS event page lists a magnitude of 7.7 and the location south-west of Pitaloza Arriba. source
- confirmed Panama declared a national state of emergency on Saturday. — This was reported by AP and Reuters. source
- confirmed At least 27 injuries have been reported and no fatalities have been attributed to the earthquake. — AP and Reuters both reported 27 injuries and no reported deaths at their respective publication times. source
- confirmed The damage figures differ depending on the time of measurement: AP reported approximately 420 damaged homes, while Reuters later reported nearly 900. — Both figures appear in the cited publications; the article presents them as successive interim figures. source
- confirmed According to Panama’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, the state of emergency makes up to 100 million dollars in emergency aid available within the budget target. — Reuters attributes this to the Ministry of Economic Affairs. source
- confirmed Schools were closed nationwide on Monday and the Panama Canal remained operational. — Reuters reported both developments. source
- confirmed The USGS and Panama’s geoscientific institute use different magnitude and depth measurements. — The USGS gives 7.7 and 12.6 kilometres; the PAHO report refers to a Panamanian measurement of 7.5 and 4 kilometres. source
Editor's note
It is certain that Panama reported more than 200 aftershocks on 11 October, declared a state of emergency and reported 27 injuries. The damage inventory is still provisional; Reuters and AP cite different figures. USGS and Panama’s geoscientific institute also differ in their magnitude and depth measurements.Sources
- Panama suffers over 200 aftershocks after Friday’s 7.7-magnitude earthquake — Reuters via Investing.com
- Panama declares a state of emergency as powerful quake aftershocks rattle communities — AP News
- M 7.7 - 12 km WSW of Pitaloza Arriba, Panama — U.S. Geological Survey
- Informe de Situación 1: Terremoto en Panamá, Octubre 2026 — Pan American Health Organization
More on this in Dutch media
- AD — „panama aardbeving”
- de Volkskrant — „panama aardbeving”
- RTL Nieuws — „panama aardbeving”