Magnitude-6.3 earthquake hits Panama, days after deadly 7.5 tremor
Synopsis
Panama has now been struck by three earthquakes in four days — a 5.0 on October 11, a 7.5 on Friday that triggered a state of emergency, and a 6.3 on Monday. With damage still being assessed from the most powerful tremor and relief operations ongoing, the latest quake adds fresh strain to a country already in crisis mode.
Key Takeaways
A magnitude-6.3 earthquake struck Panama on 13 October at 6:20 pm local time , with no immediate casualties reported.
The epicentre was 32 km southwest of Sona , in Veraguas province , at a depth of 10 km .
A far more destructive magnitude-7.5 earthquake had struck Panama on Friday , prompting a state of emergency declared on Saturday .
President José Raúl Mulino ordered a relief coordination commission; donation centres have been set up across the country.
A magnitude-5.0 tremor also struck Panama on 11 October , marking three significant quakes in four days.
A magnitude-6.3 earthquake struck Panama on Monday, 13 October, according to a preliminary report from the Geosciences Institute of the University of Panama. The tremor hit at 6:20 pm local time (2320 GMT), with no immediate reports of casualties or structural damage.
Epicentre and Depth
The quake's epicentre was located 32 km southwest of Sona, in the western province of Veraguas, at a depth of 10 km. Shallow-focus earthquakes — those occurring within 70 km of the surface — tend to produce stronger ground shaking, making depth a key variable in damage assessments.
A Country Still Reeling from Friday's 7.5 Tremor
Monday's quake arrives in the immediate aftermath of a far more powerful magnitude-7.5 earthquake that struck Panama on Friday, with its epicentre roughly 39 km northwest of Tonosi in Los Santos province. That tremor damaged homes, schools, health facilities, roads, and public buildings across several parts of the country.
In response, Panama declared a state of emergency on Saturday to coordinate relief efforts. Presidency Minister Juan Carlos Orillac, speaking at a press conference at the presidential palace, confirmed the declaration was intended to keep government agencies on standby with adequate resources for affected communities.
Orillac also said President José Raúl Mulino had ordered the formation of a commission to coordinate relief operations, manage resources, and address the needs of those displaced or harmed. The government additionally set up donation collection centres, including one at Omar Park in Panama City, with provincial government offices serving as additional collection points.
Earlier Tremor on October 11
Monday's 6.3-magnitude event was preceded by a magnitude-5.0 earthquake on 11 October at 1711 GMT, according to the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences. That quake's epicentre was recorded at a depth of 10 km, at coordinates 7.71 degrees north latitude and 81.63 degrees west longitude.
This comes amid a notably active seismic sequence for Panama. The country sits along the boundary of the Caribbean and North Andes tectonic plates, making it historically prone to earthquake activity — though a cluster of three significant events within four days is unusual even by regional standards.
Ongoing Assessment and Relief Efforts
Panamanian authorities continue to assess the full extent of damage from the Friday earthquake while simultaneously monitoring aftershock activity. Emergency response teams remain deployed across affected provinces, and the state of emergency framework is expected to remain in place as relief operations continue.
Point of View
And Panama's emergency institutions are being stress-tested in real time. The state of emergency framework declared after Friday's 7.5 tremor was the right call, but the Monday 6.3 quake underscores that aftershock risk remains elevated and relief operations cannot assume the ground has stabilised. What is not yet clear is the cumulative structural toll: buildings weakened by a 7.5 are far more vulnerable to a follow-on 6.3 than they would be otherwise. The damage count from Friday's event may not be final.
NationPress
13 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What magnitude was the earthquake that struck Panama on 13 October?
A magnitude-6.3 earthquake struck Panama on Monday, 13 October, according to a preliminary report from the Geosciences Institute of the University of Panama. The epicentre was 32 km southwest of Sona in Veraguas province, at a depth of 10 km.
Were there any casualties from the 13 October Panama earthquake?
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage following the magnitude-6.3 quake on 13 October. However, authorities were already assessing damage from a much stronger magnitude-7.5 earthquake that struck the country on the previous Friday.
Why did Panama declare a state of emergency?
Panama declared a state of emergency on Saturday, 11 October, following a powerful magnitude-7.5 earthquake on Friday that damaged homes, schools, health facilities, roads, and public buildings. Presidency Minister Juan Carlos Orillac said the declaration would keep government agencies on standby with the resources needed for relief.
How many earthquakes has Panama experienced in recent days?
Panama has been struck by at least three notable earthquakes since 10 October: a magnitude-7.5 on Friday, a magnitude-5.0 on 11 October, and a magnitude-6.3 on Monday, 13 October. The cluster is unusually active even for a seismically prone region.
Where is Panama prone to earthquakes and why?
Panama sits along the boundary of the Caribbean and North Andes tectonic plates, making it historically susceptible to seismic activity. Shallow-focus earthquakes — like the recent cluster at 10 km depth — tend to produce stronger surface shaking and greater risk of structural damage.
