A succession of seismic tremors has recently shaken Panama, according to data compiled by GDACS. The events, classified as green earthquakes, occurred in October 2026 at a consistent depth of 10 kilometres, prompting international monitoring systems to track their potential consequences.
According to GDACS, the sequence began with a 5.8-magnitude earthquake on October 9, 2026, at 18:37 UTC, affecting an estimated 5 thousand people in MMI>=VII zones. This was followed later the same day at 20:25 UTC by a 6.6-magnitude event impacting approximately 10 thousand people in MMI>=VII areas. On October 10, 2026, at 04:14 UTC, a 6.0-magnitude tremor struck, reaching 4 thousand people in MMI>=VII zones. A fourth event, measuring 6.1 in magnitude, occurred on October 12, 2026, at 23:20 UTC, affecting 1 thousand people in MMI>=VII conditions.
Background
GDACS reports that despite the magnitudes—ranging from 5.8 to 6.6—each of these earthquakes can have a low humanitarian impact based on the specific magnitude, the affected population, and their vulnerability. As part of standard response protocols, the USGS estimates the number of casualties for each earthquake using its Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) product, with current fatality estimates displayed through ongoing graph updates. Furthermore, GDACS has compiled reference links and data from multiple international and scientific sources for these events, including EC-JRC, NEIC, OCHA, DesInventar, WMO, USGS, and INFORM.
Why it matters
For readers observing global disaster reporting from Pakistan, these international monitoring metrics highlight how organizations like GDACS and the USGS assess seismic risks worldwide by evaluating population vulnerability and earthquake depth alongside magnitude.