There was a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Panama on Friday, Oct 9th. Several other earthquakes followed, along with aftershocks affecting the central provinces of Panama.

Following these events, many people are wondering: Is it safe to travel to Panama right now? Yes. It is safe; if you are traveling to Panama City or Coronado, your trip will likely be unaffected apart from potential flight delays. Each day, these delays are fewer. 

The worst-affected provinces are Veraguas, Coclé, Los Santos, and Herrera. In these It is a good idea to check with your hotel or Airbnb to see what the situation is. Businesses in Panama are required to have structural engineers assess damage, so if they are open for business, this means the building is safe.

It is important to note that these areas are already in an economic crisis; your stay makes a difference. While you are visiting, consider working with local guides and supporting small stores and vendors. 

 In these areas, much of the local economy relies on tourism. 

Will there be a Tsunami in Panama?

The quake initially prompted tsunami alerts along the Pacific coastline of Panama and several other countries including Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru, according to the U.S. Pacific Warning Center. These warnings always come after significant earthquakes. They have been cancelled. No new warnings have been issued. 

Will there be Another Earthquake in Panama?

While individual earthquakes can’t be predicted, geologists can calculate the chances that more earthquakes will follow an initial quake using statistical models of past events. For this earthquake, it is unlikely — less than a 1 percent chance — that a large earthquake will strike the area again, according to the U.S.G.S. 

The chance of aftershocks typically decreases over time. Forecast quake counts are estimates. Data is as of Oct. 13 at 10:57 a.m. through Oct. 20 at 10:57 a.m. Eastern. Source: The New York Times

Aftershocks in Panama

Subsequent earthquakes have been reported in the same area along with aftershocks caused by minor adjustments along the portion of a fault line. Aftershocks can occur days, weeks or even years after the first earthquake.