What the record shows for Panama
The strongest earthquake on record near Panama is a magnitude 7.7 in 2026, centred 10 km WSW of Pitaloza Arriba, Panama. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 260 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Panama - roughly 13 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 10 tsunamis within 300 km of Panama between 1621 and 2026. The most significant was in 1976 near Panama, triggered by an M6.7 earthquake, which killed around 5 people.
2 volcanoes are catalogued near Panama, including Valle, El, Baru. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Panama lies on a complex junction of the Caribbean, Nazca and Cocos plates.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Panama.
Earthquake risk in Panama - FAQ
Is Panama at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 13 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.7 in 2026.
What was the biggest earthquake in Panama?
The strongest earthquake on record near Panama is M7.7, in 2026 (10 km WSW of Pitaloza Arriba, Panama), from USGS.
Does Panama get tsunamis?
Yes - 10 tsunamis since 1621 (most recently 2026) within 300 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 5 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Panama?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.