Panama records around 500 earthquakes a year and has experienced earthquakes larger than magnitude 7, from the 1882 San Blas earthquake to the 2026 Azuero earthquake. In this section, we bring together the information professionals, companies, and property owners need to understand the country’s seismic risk: its history, its main fault lines, and the official data on each event.
Our focus is construction: what each earthquake means for structural design, soil studies, building inspection, and compliance with the Panama Structural Code (REP). Start with the history of earthquakes in Panama, our reference guide on the topic.
We explain where the country’s seismic sources are and how active they are, such as the Pedro Miguel Fault, next to the Canal and a few kilometers from the capital, the Panama Fracture Zone in Chiriquí, and the Azuero area, and we review the earthquakes that have shaped the country using scientific and official sources.
We publish practical guides for designing, building, and assessing buildings in an earthquake-prone country: what the code requires, how to inspect a structure after an earthquake, and when to call a specialist. If your project needs an assessment, see our directory of engineering and consulting firms in Panama.
Panama’s fault lines number in the dozens. The map of Quaternary faults and folds by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Institute of Geosciences at the University of Panama catalogs 22 main structures, divided into more than 40 sections, and later studies have identified
Seismic risk management means moving from understanding the hazard —where the ground can shake and how hard— to reducing its consequences before an earthquake strikes. Earthquakes cannot be prevented or predicted precisely, but their effects can be reduced through scientific knowledge, urban planning, site characterization,
The Pedro Miguel Fault is an active fault that runs north to south alongside the Panama Canal, a few kilometers from the capital. It is the most likely cause of the May 2, 1621, earthquake that severely damaged the city of Panamá Viejo. Studies carried
Earthquakes in Panama are stronger and more frequent than many people think. The strongest measured with modern instruments struck the Azuero Peninsula on October 9, 2026, with a magnitude of 7.7 according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The September 7, 1882, earthquake in the
Panama’s fault lines number in the dozens. The map of Quaternary faults and folds by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Institute of Geosciences at the University of Panama
Seismic risk management means moving from understanding the hazard —where the ground can shake and how hard— to reducing its consequences before an earthquake strikes. Earthquakes cannot be prevented or
The Pedro Miguel Fault is an active fault that runs north to south alongside the Panama Canal, a few kilometers from the capital. It is the most likely cause of
Earthquakes in Panama are stronger and more frequent than many people think. The strongest measured with modern instruments struck the Azuero Peninsula on October 9, 2026, with a magnitude of
