Shallow M5.8 earthquake hits El Cacao, Panama on October 9, 2026

A shallow M5.8 earthquake was recorded at 18:37 UTC on October 9, 2026, approximately 1 km (1 mile) south of El Cacao, Panama. According to data from the USGS, the hypocenter was located at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 miles), at coordinates 7.4°N, 80.4°W.

The event occurred inland, near the locality of El Cacao, in central Panama. El Cacao is a rural community, and the surrounding region contains a mix of small towns and villages. Population density in this area is relatively low compared to Panama City or Colón, and the nearest larger urban centers are situated several dozen kilometers away.

Infrastructure in the region consists mainly of rural highways and secondary roads connecting local communities. Key national transit and energy infrastructure, as well as Panama’s main economic facilities, are located at some distance from the epicenter.

There is no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, based on its location and available data.

The significance index is 518 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude and estimated impact.

Panama is located near the complex tectonic boundary between the Caribbean Plate and the South American Plate, resulting in moderate seismicity in the region. The area around El Cacao lies within a known inland seismic zone where shallow earthquakes occasionally occur.

This information was last updated at 18:48 UTC on October 9, 2026.