# Panama earthquake and emergency response > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/20261011-panama-earthquake-and-emergency-response > Updated: 2026-10-15T21:40:00.000Z. Sources: 51. Developments: 3. A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Azuero Peninsula in Panama on Friday, October 9, 2026, centered near Pitaloza Arriba. The seismic event, attributed to the Azuero-Soná fault system, caused significant structural damage across the provinces of Herrera, Los Santos, Veraguas, Coclé, and Chiriquí. Notable destruction includes the collapse of the towers of the San Juan Bautista Cathedral in Penonomé. While initial reports focused on damage to hundreds of schools and homes, the scale of the impact has grown. Authorities report that over 11,500 people have been directly affected, with more than 2,800 individuals currently residing in temporary shelters. The earthquake has resulted in approximately 30 injuries across the country. On October 15, officials confirmed the first fatality: 68-year-old Elena Barría of Macaracas. Following a home collapse, Barría suffered an abdominal perforation and later died of a heart attack. Her family has alleged negligence, citing “significant delays in receiving initial medical attention” after the collapse. President José Raúl Mulino noted that her pre-existing conditions, including severe diabetes, complicated her recovery. The Panamanian government has declared a national state of emergency, with President Mulino allocating up to 100 million dollars for recovery. The United States has provided an initial $5 million in humanitarian assistance. U.S. Ambassador Kevin Marino Cabrera stated that officials are discussing further technical support, including the potential deployment of engineers to assess building safety and determine if structures are safe for re-entry. ## Claims - The earthquake reached a magnitude of 7.7 according to the USGS. (disputed by 12 sources) - Approximately 840 homes have been affected by the seismic event. (disputed by 3 sources) - A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Panama in the early hours of Tuesday. (disputed by 3 sources) - More than 2,000 infrastructures have been affected by the earthquake. (disputed by 2 sources) - More than 230 aftershocks have been recorded following the main earthquake. (disputed by 2 sources) - The initial earthquake was followed by 147 aftershocks. (disputed by 2 sources) - A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck southern Panama on Monday evening. (disputed by 2 sources) - A magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurred at 18:20 local time on October 12, located 32 km southwest of Soná. (disputed) - A magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred on Monday at 23:20 GMT. (disputed) - No deaths have been reported as a result of the earthquake. (corroborated by 9 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-15: Panama earthquake claims first fatality Elena Barría, 68, is the first official death reported following Panama's magnitude 7.7 earthquake. The victim died of a heart attack after sustaining injuries when her home collapsed in Macaracas. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/panama-earthquake-claims-first-fatality ### 2026-10-11: Panama earthquake: 7.7 magnitude quake triggers state of emergency A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama, causing widespread damage to homes and schools. The government declared a state of emergency and allocated $100 million for relief efforts. 47 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/panama-earthquake-causes-flight-disruptions-at-tocumen-airport ### 2026-10-10: Football Ferns matches in Panama cancelled after earthquake Friendly football matches between New Zealand and Panama were cancelled due to a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Panama, prompting the New Zealand team to return home. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/football-ferns-matches-in-panama-cancelled-after-earthquake --- Cite as: Panama earthquake and emergency response. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/20261011-panama-earthquake-and-emergency-response