California weather center addresses tsunami fears after massive earthquake strikes Panama

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck near Pitaloza Arriba, Panama, on the afternoon of October 9, 2026. The quake, which occurred at a depth of approximately 6 to 7 miles, was felt strongly in Panama City and parts of Costa Rica, prompting evacuations and reports of property damage, including the collapse of a cathedral in Penonomé. While the U.S. Tsunami Warning System initially issued alerts for several Central and South American countries, regional authorities and the National Weather Service confirmed there was no tsunami threat to California. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino has mobilized emergency resources and called for public calm.

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck near Pitaloza Arriba, Panama, on the afternoon of October 9, 2026. The quake, which occurred at a depth of approximately 6 to 7 miles, was felt strongly in Panama City and parts of Costa Rica, prompting evacuations and reports of property damage, including the collapse of a cathedral in Penonomé. While the U.S. Tsunami Warning System initially issued alerts for several Central and South American countries, regional authorities and the National Weather Service confirmed there was no tsunami threat to California. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino has mobilized emergency resources and called for public calm.