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A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck off Panama’s southern coast Friday, shaking the country’s capital as officials investigated a potential tsunami threat.
The U.S. Geological Survey initially measured the earthquake at magnitude 8.0 before lowering its estimate to 7.7. The quake struck at 1:56 p.m. ET, at a depth of 7.8 miles, near Pitaloza Arriba, Panama.
A 5.5 magnitude aftershock followed, with its epicenter approximately 50 miles east of the initial earthquake.
People stand outside the maternity ward of the Santo Tomas hospital after a severe magnitude 7.7 earthquake thet hit the country in Panama City Oct. 9, 2026. (Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images)
The earthquake was felt in Panama City and in San José, the capital of neighboring Costa Rica, according to Reuters.
Tsunami officials warned that waves reaching 3 to 10 feet above tide levels were possible along some coastal areas of Panama, while parts of Ecuador could experience waves of approximately 1 to 3 feet.
Smaller tsunami waves of less than 1 foot above tide levels were forecast for coastal areas of Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru.
COLOMBIA BUILDING COLLAPSES ON CAMERA AS EARTHQUAKE BRINGS DEATH, DESTRUCTION
Medical workers and patients gather outside a hospital after a powerful earthquake in Panama Oct. 9, 2026. (Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images)
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a Friday post on X that the State Department was rapidly mobilizing resources and personnel to assist Panama at the request of the Panamanian government. Rubio said the U.S. was closely monitoring the earthquake and directed Americans needing assistance to the department’s 24-hour consular hotline at +1-202-501-4444 from abroad or +1-888-407-4747 from the U.S. and Canada.
The U.S. Embassy in Panama also said it was assessing potential damage and working to account for the safety and whereabouts of visitors and personnel. In a separate X post, the embassy urged Americans in Panama to enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program at STEP.State.gov and follow its social media accounts for updates.
Despite the potential danger to coastal communities near the earthquake, officials said a Pacific-wide tsunami was not expected.
Earthquakes measuring between 7.0 and 7.9 can cause serious damage, according to Michigan Technological University.
Information about possible damage or casualties from Friday’s earthquake was not immediately available.
People gather in a Panama City square after evacuating a building after a powerful earthquake. (Arnulfo Franco/AFP via Getty Images)
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This is a developing story; check back later for updates.
