On October 9, 2026 at 17:56 UTC, a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 occurred in Panama. The epicenter was located 10 km west-southwest of the populated area of Pitalosa Arriba, at coordinates 7.607° N and 80.757° W. The depth of the focus was 10 km, making the earthquake shallow and potentially more destructive to the surface. According to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the PAGER impact assessment system assigned an orange alert level to the event, indicating a significant risk of casualties and serious material damage. The ShakeMap intensity map recorded a maximum value of VIII on the Mercalli scale, corresponding to destructive shaking. Reports from eyewitnesses collected through the 'Did You Feel It?' service also confirmed intensity up to VIII on the scale — more than 2,000 reports were received from residents who felt the tremors. Intensity VIII on the scale means possible serious damage to buildings, especially poorly constructed structures, as well as destruction of constructions, cracks in roads, and ground displacement. Panamanian authorities and specialized services are likely conducting an assessment of the extent of damage and possible casualties in areas nearest to the epicenter. As of the time of publication, details about casualties and destruction have not been clarified.