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Earthquakes in Panama

In Panama, there are partly large earthquakes with strengths of more than 7.0, which cause damages within a radius of over 100 kilometers. Due to the special tectonic situation of the country, there are more earthquakes than average.

7 people died since 1950 by direct consequences of earthquakes. There were 2 earthquakes that also caused a subsequent tsunami, which claimed further lives, and cause additional damage.

Other natural hazards in Panama:
› Tsunamis
› Hurricanes
› The most severe earthquakes in the world


Back to overview: Panama

Severe earthquake on May 24th

In the evening of May 24th, 2023, a devastating earthquake occurred Panama-Colombia border at 22:05 local time. The quake had a magnitude of 6.6 points on the Richter scale and occurred at a depth of about 10 kilometers. In the course of the following days there were several aftershocks. Seven of them with a magnitude of over 2.5. The most severe aftershock had a magnitude of 4.9. Such violent earthquakes occur only rarely. It is the strongest earthquake in Panama in over 8 months.

Most recent events

This list includes the strongest earthquakes recorded in or around Panama by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the past 14 days. Whether an event is listed here depends largely on its magnitude, but also on its distance from inhabited areas. All data refer to the local time. This page is updated daily at 10:00 UTC.

Recent earthquakes in Panama
  • May 26, 7:56 pm
    Magnitude 4.4: 185 km south-southeast of Cambutal at a depth of ten km.
  • May 25, 4:02 am
    Magnitude 4.5: 44 km northeast of Puerto Obaldía at a depth of ten km.
  • May 25, 3:47 am
    Magnitude 4.4: 30 km east-northeast of Puerto Obaldía at a depth of ten km.
  • May 25, 2:35 am
    Magnitude 4.5: Panama-Colombia border at a depth of ten km.
  • May 25, 1:48 am
    Magnitude 4.6: Panama-Colombia border at a depth of ten km.
  • May 24, 10:14 pm
    Magnitude 4.9: 41 km northeast of Puerto Obaldía at a depth of ten km.
  • May 24, 10:05 pm
    Magnitude 6.6: Panama-Colombia border at a depth of ten km. Tsunami warning!


Earthquakes in Panama since 1950

The strongest earthquake in Panama happened on 07/26/1962 in the Panama region with a magnitude of 7.4 on the Richter scale.
DateRegionDepthMagnitudeDeathsTotal damage
07/29/2015Colombia (Unguia)6 km5.90
07/04/2009Panama City35 km6.00
11/19/2008Paso Canoa, David, Puerto Armuelles20 km6.10
05/04/2006Boquete9 km4.50
02/04/2004Chiriqui47 km6.10
12/25/2003Puerto Armuelles11 km6.52
08/13/2003Colon, Panama City27 km5.40
07/31/2002Baru, Alanje, David; Costa Rica (Laurel)44 km6.50
11/08/2000Jurado58 km6.50
05/04/1991Changuinola, Almirante, Bocas Del Toro54 km6.20
07/01/1979Puerto Armuelles4 km6.50
07/11/1976Darien31 km6.75
07/26/1962Panama41 km7.40
03/12/1962Costa Rica-Panama16 km6.80


These statistics are based on datas from the National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K. Data have been summarized and translated.
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