# M6.1 Earthquake: 15 km W of Río Grande, Panama Updated 09:05 UTC, 29 Oct 2026. Canonical: https://monitorworld.app/earthquake/2026-10-12-m6-1-rio-grande-panama A **magnitude 6.1** earthquake struck 15 km W of Río Grande, Panama at 23:20 UTC on 12 Oct 2026, at a depth of 11 km, reported by USGS. USGS PAGER issued a yellow alert: some damage and deaths are possible. USGS did not set a tsunami flag for this quake. So far 10 aftershocks of M2.5+ have been recorded within 50 km, the largest a M5.0. ## Key numbers - Magnitude (USGS): **M6.1** (mww) - Depth: **11 km** (shallow) - USGS PAGER impact alert: **YELLOW** (estimated impact) - Aftershocks M2.5+ so far: **10** (within 50 km) ## Nearest places - [15 KM] Río Grande, Veraguas, Panama (15 km from the epicentre, quake was W of here, population 71) - [69 KM] Santiago de Veraguas, Veraguas, Panama (69 km from the epicentre, quake was SW of here, population 45,355) - [118 KM] Monagrillo, Herrera, Panama (118 km from the epicentre, quake was WSW of here, population 10,821) - [118 KM] Pocrí, Coclé, Panama (118 km from the epicentre, quake was WSW of here, population 12,304) - [120 KM] San Juan Bautista, Herrera, Panama (120 km from the epicentre, quake was WSW of here, population 11,798) - [257 KM] Panama City, Panama (257 km from the epicentre, quake was WSW of here, population 408,000) - [266 KM] San Miguelito, Panama (266 km from the epicentre, quake was SW of here, population 322,000) - [268 KM] Juan Diaz, Panama (268 km from the epicentre, quake was WSW of here, population 101,000) - [378 KM] San Jose, Costa Rica (378 km from the epicentre, quake was SE of here, population 335,000) ## Strongest aftershocks so far - [MED] [M5.0 · 8 km NW of Río Grande, Panama](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000u3vr) (2026-10-12 23:27 UTC, 10 km deep, USGS) - [MED] [M5.0 · 29 km W of Río Grande, Panama](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us7000ttgm) (2026-10-27 15:26 UTC, 10 km deep, USGS) - [LOW] [M4.9 · 19 km W of Río Grande, Panama](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000u1ww) (2026-10-12 23:36 UTC, 10 km deep, USGS) - [LOW] [M4.7 · 14 km WNW of Río Grande, Panama](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000u1zh) (2026-10-13 06:39 UTC, 10 km deep, USGS) - [LOW] [M4.6 · 24 km WNW of Río Grande, Panama](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000u1x2) (2026-10-13 00:02 UTC, 10 km deep, USGS) - [LOW] [M4.5 · 24 km SSW of Zapotillo, Panama](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000u1wz) (2026-10-12 23:45 UTC, 10 km deep, USGS) - [LOW] [M4.5 · 26 km SSW of Zapotillo, Panama](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000u21d) (2026-10-13 12:51 UTC, 10 km deep, USGS) - [LOW] [M4.5 · 0 km NE of Río Grande, Panama](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000u36m) (2026-10-18 16:12 UTC, 10 km deep, USGS) - [LOW] [M4.4 · 8 km SSE of Guarumal, Panama](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000u2n7) (2026-10-16 05:22 UTC, 10 km deep, USGS) - [LOW] [M4.1 · 0 km SSW of Leones Arriba, Panama](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000u33l) (2026-10-18 06:15 UTC, 10 km deep, USGS) ## Key context ### Tectonic setting **Panama block.** Panama sits on a small block of crust squeezed between the Caribbean, Cocos and Nazca plates and South America. The Panama Fracture Zone to the south and thrust belts on both sides of the isthmus carry most of the motion, so strong quakes are less frequent than in Costa Rica or Colombia but do occur. The USGS moment tensor shows strike-slip faulting: the two sides of the fault slid sideways past each other. At 11 km it was a very shallow quake: shallow quakes shake the ground above them hardest, so local damage depends on how close towns are. ### Shaking and impact USGS PAGER estimates the impact from the shaking and the number of people exposed. For this quake it issued a yellow alert: some damage and deaths are possible (fatality alert: green, economic loss alert: yellow). PAGER is an early estimate and can change as reports come in. The USGS ShakeMap estimates the strongest shaking at intensity VII on the Modified Mercalli scale (very strong). 72 people sent a "Did You Feel It?" report to USGS, with the strongest reported intensity V (moderate). Estimated shaking in nearby towns, from USGS PAGER. | Town | Population | Estimated intensity | | --- | --- | --- | | Santiago | 45,955 | V (moderate) | | Ocu | 7,006 | V (moderate) | | Santa Fe | 3,047 | IV (light) | | Pese | 2,565 | IV (light) | | Calobre | 2,514 | IV (light) | | Los Pozos | 2,199 | IV (light) | | La Loma | 1,844 | IV (light) | | Llano de Piedra | 1,737 | IV (light) | ### Aftershocks This page counts quakes of M2.5 or more within 50 km after the main shock, from the USGS catalog (last checked 09:05 UTC, 29 Oct 2026): 10 aftershocks so far. Aftershocks are normal after a quake of this size. They usually become less frequent over days and weeks, but a strong aftershock can still happen, and in a few sequences a later quake is larger. No one can predict their exact time or size; follow the official agency for your area. ### Earthquake history within 250 km Since 1976, USGS lists 244 quakes of M5 or more within 250 km of this epicentre, about 4.9 a year. Since 1900 the same circle had 73 quakes of M6.1 or larger. Largest earlier quakes within 250 km, USGS catalog since 1900 (M6+). | Magnitude | Place (USGS) | Date | Depth | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | M7.7 | 12 km WSW of Pitaloza Arriba, Panama | 2026-10-09 | 13 km | | M7.5 | 44 km ESE of Burica, Panama | 1934-07-18 | 30 km | | M7.2 | 45 km SW of Quebrada de Piedra, Panama | 1904-01-20 | 10 km | | M7.2 | 59 km SSE of Burica, Panama | 1962-07-26 | 25 km | | M7.1 | 12 km N of Golfito, Costa Rica | 1983-04-03 | 37 km | | M7.0 | 56 km SSE of Cambutal, Panama | 1943-05-02 | 20 km | | M6.8 | south of Panama | 1934-07-18 | 25 km | | M6.8 | 146 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | 1982-08-19 | 10 km | ### Official information - [EMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)](https://www.emsc-csem.org/) - [USGS event page for this quake](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000u1wn) (ShakeMap, PAGER, felt reports) - [tsunami.gov](https://www.tsunami.gov/) for US tsunami bulletins ### Data status USGS review status: reviewed. Magnitude type: mww. USGS last updated this event on 22 Oct 2026 at 18:53 UTC. Magnitude, depth and location can still be revised; this page keeps the same address if they change. ## FAQ ### How strong was the earthquake near Río Grande, Panama? USGS measured it at magnitude 6.1 (mww), 11 km deep. The strongest estimated shaking was intensity VII (very strong). Quakes of M6 to 6.9 are classed as strong. ### Was there a tsunami? USGS did not set a tsunami flag for this quake. If you are on a coast and feel strong or long shaking, move to high ground anyway, and follow local officials. ### Was the earthquake felt? Yes. 72 people reported it to USGS "Did You Feel It?", with reports up to intensity V. ### Will there be more aftershocks? Aftershocks are likely to continue for days to weeks, becoming less frequent over time. So far 10 aftershocks of M2.5+ have been listed. Most sequences do not produce a larger quake, but some do. No one can predict the time or size of the next one; follow EMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre). ### What should I do after a strong earthquake? Expect aftershocks: Drop, Cover and Hold On when shaking starts again. Check for injuries and damage, stay out of damaged buildings, and use text messages instead of calls so emergency lines stay free. On a coast, move to high ground after strong shaking. Follow your local officials. ## Get the app MonitorWorld is free on iPhone and Android, rated 4.7 from 52 ratings on the US App Store. - App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6760610225 - Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.monitorworld ## Sources - [USGS event page](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000u1wn): magnitude, location, ShakeMap, PAGER and Did You Feel It? data for this event. Public domain. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey. - [USGS ComCat (FDSN event web service)](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/fdsnws/event/1/): the USGS earthquake catalog, used for the 30-year counts, history and aftershocks. Public domain. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey. - [USGS Geoserve](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/ws/geoserve/): nearest places to the epicentre. - [GeoNames](https://www.geonames.org/): large-city coordinates, CC BY 4.0. ## Related - [M6.6 Río Grande, Panama](https://monitorworld.app/earthquake/2026-10-09-m6-6-rio-grande-panama): 9 Oct 2026, 3 km from this quake. - [M7.7 Pitaloza Arriba, Panama](https://monitorworld.app/earthquake/2026-10-09-m7-7-pitaloza-arriba-panama): 9 Oct 2026, 78 km from this quake. - [Earthquakes today](https://monitorworld.app/live/earthquakes-today): Every M2.5+ quake of the past 24 hours. - [Earthquakes by region](https://monitorworld.app/live/earthquakes): All regions and every M5.5+ quake page. - [Tsunami warning today](https://monitorworld.app/live/tsunami-warning): Latest US tsunami bulletins. - [Earthquake near me](https://monitorworld.app/live/earthquake-near-me): Sort recent quakes by distance from you.