Powerful 6.6 Aftershock Strikes Western Panama Hours After Friday's Main Shock
The USGS revised the quake down from a preliminary 6.9 to a reviewed 6.6, striking at 20:25 UTC about 14 km west of Río Grande at 10 km depth, the largest aftershock of Friday's seismic sequence. ShakeMap estimates severe shaking near the epicenter; no damage reports had come in yet.
Key points
- *Updated 21:15 UTC: Developing story.*
- PANAMA CITY: A powerful magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck western Panama on Friday afternoon, the largest aftershock of a violent seismic sequence that began hours earlier with a devastating main…
- The quake hit at 3:25 p.m. Panama time (20:25 UTC), about 14 kilometers west of Río Grande, at a depth of 10 kilometers, the USGS reported.
*Updated 21:15 UTC: Developing story.*
PANAMA CITY: A powerful magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck western Panama on Friday afternoon, the largest aftershock of a violent seismic sequence that began hours earlier with a devastating main shock, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, which revised the quake down from a preliminary 6.9 upon review.
The quake hit at 3:25 p.m. Panama time (20:25 UTC), about 14 kilometers west of Río Grande, at a depth of 10 kilometers, the USGS reported. The agency lists the event as reviewed. Thirteen people filed felt reports, and the USGS ShakeMap estimates severe shaking, intensity VIII, near the epicenter. The agency's PAGER system rates the quake a yellow alert, and the USGS record shows a tsunami bulletin was issued for the quake.
A violent day of shaking
The tremor came roughly two and a half hours after a magnitude 7.7 main shock struck near Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera Province, rattling the capital and setting off tsunami warnings along the Pacific coasts of Central and South America. Earlier coverage of the main shock described damaged buildings in Penonome, including a church with a partially collapsed steeple, and a multi-story building that collapsed in the resort town of Playa Venao, crushing cars beneath it.
Two smaller aftershocks had already followed the main quake, a magnitude 5.5 near Bajo Corral and a magnitude 5.8 near Cacao. The 6.6 quake dwarfs both, making it by far the largest aftershock of the sequence so far.
What officials know
Damage assessments for the new quake had not been reported as of publication.
Panama's president, José Raúl Mulino, had called for calm earlier in the day and mobilized government resources for the affected areas. The Panama Canal Authority said the canal was operating normally. After the main shock, Panama City's metro suspended service on two lines and the Education Ministry canceled classes nationwide.
The USGS had estimated that some casualties were possible and extensive damage was probable from the main shock, a red PAGER alert, a preliminary assessment made before ground reports were fully tallied.
No casualty reports tied to the 6.6 quake had been confirmed as of publication. This is a developing story and will be updated as new information is verified.
Watch
Timeline
- Oct 9, 2026Magnitude 7.7 main shock strikes near Pitaloza Arriba, Herrera Province, at 17:56 UTC; tsunami threat issued for Pacific coasts of Central and South America, later lifted.
- Oct 9, 2026Largest aftershock strikes 14 km west of Río Grande at 20:25 UTC. First reported as a preliminary 6.9, the USGS revised it to a reviewed 6.6 and relocated the epicenter; ShakeMap estimates severe shaking (intensity VIII) and PAGER rates it a yellow alert.