Strong earthquake strikes southern Panama; no immediate damage reported
USGS and EMSC issued differing preliminary estimates for a strong earthquake in southern Panama on October 12; no immediate casualties or damage were reported.
AI-generated representative illustration. It is not a photograph of the October 12 Panama earthquake and was created only for news context.
Another strong earthquake strikes southern Panama
Summary: A strong earthquake struck southern Panama on Monday evening, October 12. There were no immediate reports of casualties or property damage from the latest tremor.
- Associated Press, citing the U.S. Geological Survey, reported a preliminary magnitude of 6.1.
- AP placed the epicentre about 18 kilometres west of Río Grande at a depth of 10 kilometres.
- Reuters, citing the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, reported a different preliminary estimate: magnitude 6.0 at a depth of 35 kilometres.
- Because the agencies’ early estimates differ, both are presented separately and neither is treated here as a final measurement.
The earthquake occurred at about 6:20 p.m. Panama time on October 12—approximately 4:50 a.m. IST on October 13.
Background to the continuing earthquake sequence
Panama was struck by magnitude 7.7 and 6.6 earthquakes on October 9. By October 11, more than 200 aftershocks had been recorded; 27 people were injured and nearly 900 homes were damaged, Reuters reported citing emergency authorities. No deaths had been reported at that point.
Sources and image information
- Associated Press — October 13, 2026
- Reuters — October 13, 2026 IST
- Reuters — October 11 background report
- Image: AI-generated representative illustration by MyNilgiris / OpenAI. It is not a photograph of the actual earthquake and was created only for news context.
