On the morning of June 21, 2024, a powerful seismic event was felt across Panama. Residents reported the ground shaking strongly enough to knock objects from shelves and send people rushing into the streets. The quake’s origin was traced to a remote area near the community of Pitaloza Arriba, setting off a chain of events that would unfold over the following hours and days.
Subsequent analysis led the agency to revise the figure downward to 7.6, and later still to a final estimate of 7.7. This progression shows how early automated estimates can be refined as more seismic data arrive, a routine step in earthquake monitoring.
A massive magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama, shaking buildings more than 100 miles away and prompting evacuations, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Tremors were felt in Panama City, where buildings shook and people evacuated into the streets. https://t.co/46kFq5wpSV https://t.co/jsr5g6uLDv
Scientists placed the epicenter roughly ten kilometres southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, a small settlement in Herrera province. The quake originated at a depth of ten kilometres below the Earth’s surface, a relatively shallow depth that often results in stronger shaking at ground level compared with deeper events.
Later that same Friday afternoon, the warning was lifted after analysts determined that no destructive waves were generated.
Following the main tremor, seismologists at the University of Panama logged more than forty‑five aftershocks. Several of these aftershocks reached magnitudes above five, with the largest recorded aftershock measuring 5.8. The sequence illustrates how the crust continues to adjust after a major rupture, producing a cascade of smaller vibrations.
Earthquake Watch Hits: M7.7 in Panama https://t.co/521UALR72J via @YouTube
The National Civil Protection Service reported that the most significant damage was concentrated in the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos. Buildings showed partial collapses, walls developed cracks, and infrastructure suffered stress. In the town of Penonome, at least one injury was recorded when falling debris struck a resident.
Among the cultural losses, the colonial‑style Church of San Atanasio in Los Santos province collapsed entirely. The church had been declared a National Historic Heritage Site in 1938, underscoring its long‑standing value to the nation’s architectural legacy. Its loss was noted by local news outlets as a particularly poignant consequence of the shaking.
BREAKING: A massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake hits Panama buildings shook over 100 miles away, people evacuated into streets in Panama City. Per USGS. https://t.co/HgACdtpCZk
Because the quake occurred offshore, the US Tsunami Warning System issued an alert for hazardous tsunami waves along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico, with a possible threat to Hawaii. Later that same Friday afternoon, the warning was lifted after analysts determined that no destructive waves were generated.
Tocumen International Airport in Panama City responded to the seismic activity by suspending flights and activating evacuation procedures. Travelers were directed to safe areas while crews inspected runways and terminals. After a brief closure, the airport resumed operations later in the afternoon, allowing normal air traffic to continue.
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino took to the social platform X to urge citizens not to use the event as a pretext for alarm or disorder. He emphasized that the situation was being managed by emergency services and that public cooperation was essential for safety.
Local resident Rosendo Dominguez described the intensity of the shaking, saying, “We felt it very strongly. It knocked things over in the kitchen, but we’re okay, though we’re very scared.” In another comment, Dominguez noted, “Everyone is outside, scared.” These firsthand accounts capture the immediate human reaction to the sudden ground motion.
Panama lies along the seismically active Ring of Fire, a zone where tectonic plates frequently interact, producing earthquakes and volcanic activity. The recent quakes in southern Panama follow a pattern of seismic unrest that has also affected neighboring countries such as Venezuela and Colombia, highlighting the interconnected nature of regional geologic hazards.
The Church of San Atanasio’s recognition as a National Historic Heritage Site dates back to 1938. This long‑standing designation reflects the structure’s importance to Panama’s cultural history, making its loss in the earthquake a significant cultural as well as physical blow.
As of the latest reports, the main quakes and their aftershocks have prompted evacuations, caused structural damage, led to the collapse of a historic church, triggered a tsunami alert that was later withdrawn, and briefly disrupted air travel. Officials continue to monitor the situation, assess damage, and provide assistance to affected communities while urging the public to remain calm and informed.