Strong earthquake hits Panama, tsunami threat declared from Mexico to Peru
In short
A strong earthquake struck Panama at 12:56 local time (20:56 Moscow time) on 9 October, Russian outlets reported, with magnitude estimates ranging from 6.9 to 8 depending on the agency cited. A tsunami threat was declared for Latin American countries, with RIA Novosti reporting it covered the coast from Mexico to Peru. Interfax reported more than 13 aftershocks, panic and evacuations, and no reports of damage or injuries so far, while TASS, citing Telemetro, reported that a cathedral tower collapsed.
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A strong earthquake struck Panama on 9 October, Russian outlets reported. The tremors were recorded at 12:56 local time (20:56 Moscow time), RIA Novosti and Kommersant reported. Magnitude figures varied by agency: TASS reported 6.9; RIA Novosti reported 8, citing the geosciences institute; RBC reported 7.6, citing the US Geological Survey (USGS); Kommersant reported 7.7, citing the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, which it said had first put the figure at 7.9 and later corrected it; and RIA Novosti and Interfax later reported 7.2, with Interfax citing the Geological Institute at the University of Panama. Interfax added that the Colombian and US geological services estimated the magnitude at 8. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Interfax reported the epicentre at a depth of 10 km, 39 km from the town of Tonosí in southwestern Panama. Kommersant, citing seismologists, said the epicentre was more than 200 km from Panama City at a depth of 10 km, and 12 km west-southwest of Pitalosa. RIA Novosti reported a depth of five kilometres. [ 2 , 6 , 8 ]
A tsunami threat was declared for Latin American countries after the quake, RBC and TASS reported. RIA Novosti reported that the threat covered the coast from Mexico to Peru. Kommersant said the tsunami warning applied to Panama and neighbouring states, including Ecuador, Colombia, Nicaragua, Guatemala and others. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
More than 13 aftershocks followed the main earthquake, Interfax reported, and RIA Novosti later reported several new strong tremors. Panamanian media reported panic in the quake zone and the evacuation of students from educational institutions, as well as of offices and households, according to Interfax, which said no damage or injuries had been reported so far. TASS, citing the Telemetro television channel, reported that a cathedral tower collapsed during the earthquake and that debris fell on a car parked nearby. [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]
Why it matters
A tsunami threat was declared for Panama and neighbouring states, including Ecuador, Colombia, Nicaragua and Guatemala, so the consequences extend well beyond Panama. Interfax reported no damage or casualties so far, but TASS reported a collapsed cathedral tower and RIA Novosti reported several new strong tremors, so the situation was still developing at the time of the reports.
Key facts
- The earthquake was recorded at 12:56 local time (20:56 Moscow time) on 9 October. [ 2 , 6 ]
- Magnitude estimates differ: TASS gave 6.9, RIA Novosti initially reported 8 citing the geosciences institute, RBC gave 7.6 citing the USGS, Kommersant gave 7.7 citing the EMSC, and RIA Novosti and Interfax later reported 7.2. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Interfax reported the epicentre at a depth of 10 km, 39 km from the town of Tonosí in southwestern Panama, citing the Geological Institute at the University of Panama. [ 8 ]
- Kommersant reported the epicentre more than 200 km from Panama City at a depth of 10 km, 12 km west-southwest of Pitalosa; RIA Novosti reported a depth of five kilometres. [ 2 , 6 ]
- A tsunami threat was declared for Latin American countries, on the coast from Mexico to Peru. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- More than 13 aftershocks followed the main quake, Interfax reported; RIA Novosti reported several new strong tremors. [ 8 , 9 ]
- Panamanian media reported panic in the quake zone and evacuations of students from schools, offices and households; no damage or injuries had been reported, Interfax said. [ 8 ]
- A cathedral tower collapsed during the earthquake and debris fell on a parked car, TASS reported citing the Telemetro channel. [ 10 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A strong earthquake occurred in Panama on 9 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The tremors were recorded at 12:56 local time (20:56 Moscow time). [ 2 , 6 ]
- A tsunami threat was declared for Latin American countries after the quake. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The Geological Institute at the University of Panama put the magnitude at 7.2. [ 7 , 8 ]
- Further strong tremors followed the main earthquake. [ 8 , 9 ]
Still unclear
- The magnitude of the earthquake. Outlets cite different agencies with figures of 6.9 (TASS), 8 (geosciences institute per RIA Novosti; Colombian and US services per Interfax), 7.6 (USGS per RBC), 7.7 after an initial 7.9 (EMSC per Kommersant) and 7.2 (University of Panama institute per Interfax and RIA Novosti).
- The depth of the earthquake. RIA Novosti reported five kilometres; Kommersant and Interfax reported 10 km.
- Damage and casualties. Interfax said no damage or injuries had been reported yet, while TASS, citing Telemetro, reported a collapsed cathedral tower; the cathedral's location is not given.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Earthquake recorded in Panama (Panama local time; 20:56 Moscow time). [ 2 , 6 ]
- TASS reports a magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Panama (Moscow time). [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti reports a magnitude 8 earthquake citing the geosciences institute (Moscow time). [ 2 ]
- RBC reports a tsunami threat declared in Latin America, citing a USGS magnitude of 7.6 (Moscow time). [ 3 ]
- RIA Novosti reports the tsunami threat covers the coast from Mexico to Peru (Moscow time). [ 5 ]
- Kommersant reports the EMSC put the magnitude at 7.7 after an initial estimate of 7.9 (Moscow time). [ 6 ]
- Interfax reports a magnitude of 7.2 per the University of Panama's Geological Institute, more than 13 aftershocks and evacuations (Moscow time). [ 8 ]
- RIA Novosti reports several new strong tremors in Panama (Moscow time). [ 9 ]
- TASS, citing Telemetro, reports a cathedral tower collapsed (Moscow time). [ 10 ]