October 13, 2026 — A new magnitude 6.1 earthquake (USGS) shook western Panama on Monday evening, October 12, three days after the major quake on the Azuero Peninsula. Panama’s geosciences institute says aftershocks could continue for one to two months, and some rural communities are still cut off.
What’s new
- Monday’s quake: Magnitude 6.1 at 6:20 p.m. local time (23:20 UTC) near Río Grande, Veraguas province, at a shallow depth of about 10 km. Colombia’s maritime authority said there was no tsunami threat to its Pacific coast. No new damage from this quake had been confirmed in the first reports.
- Aftershocks: More than 400 aftershocks were recorded in the first three days. Néstor Luque, director of the University of Panama’s Geosciences Institute, said they could continue for one to two months and that further strong shaking cannot be ruled out.
- Damage so far: According to Panama’s civil protection agency SINAPROC, more than 1,000 homes are damaged across Veraguas, Coclé, Herrera, Los Santos and other provinces, 598 people are in 14 shelters, 27 people were injured and no deaths are confirmed. Hundreds of schools are affected.
- Roads and bridges: Latin Times reports nine bridges down; some communities in Los Santos are cut off by damaged bridges, roads and landslides, and some interior areas can only be reached by air.
- State of emergency: Declared October 10. Tocumen International Airport and two Panama Metro lines were briefly halted after the first quake on October 9 and then reopened.
What it means for airline travelers
- Panama City and Tocumen are operating, but expect more shaking. Know your hotel’s exit route and keep your phone charged.
- Avoid non-essential road trips to the Azuero Peninsula (Los Santos, Herrera) and Veraguas while bridges and roads are being repaired.
- If you are connecting through Tocumen, build in extra time; a strong aftershock can bring short safety stops.
- Register with STEP (US) or Registration of Canadians Abroad, and follow SINAPROC for official updates.
Sources
- QuakeMap24 (USGS data) — M6.1 earthquake near Veraguas, Panama
- Vanguardia — New magnitude 6.1 quake shakes Panama on Monday, October 12
- DSN — More than 400 aftershocks in three days, could continue two months
- SINAPROC — Official Communiqué No. 7
- Latin Times — Panama quake updates: 9 bridges down, rural south still waiting for ground relief
Get NonRev Travel News by email
A weekly recap newsletter, sent out every Sunday, with the airline, airport, cruise and travel-warning news that matters to airline employees and retirees. Free.
ADVERTISEMENT
