Panama earthquakes

M5.5 earthquake 3 km SE of Divalá, Panama

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck 3 km SE of Divalá, Panama on Wed, Jan 7, 2004, 5:42 AM EST (10:42 UTC), 36 km (23 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M6.1 2 km S of Finca Blanco, Panama. This one was a foreshock.

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Map

Where this earthquake was located, with the others nearby. Select one for its page.

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The earthquake

Magnitude: 5.5 (mwb), moderate
Local time: Wed, Jan 7, 2004, 5:42 AM EST
UTC: 2004-01-07 10:42:38 UTC
Depth: 36.4 km (22.6 mi), shallow
Epicenter: 8.389° N, 82.692° W
Region: Panama
Strongest shaking: V, moderate shaking
Tsunami flag: No
Status: Reviewed by a seismologist

Shaking

The USGS ShakeMap: shaking estimated from seismic stations and the quake’s size, on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale.

Strongest estimated: V, moderate shaking
Peak ground acceleration: 6.3% of gravity
Peak ground velocity: 1.5 cm/s
Map: Automatic

USGS ShakeMap: estimated shaking intensity around the epicenter — Estimated shaking intensity. Map: USGS ShakeMap.

Did you feel it?

No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.

Fault motion and ground failure

How the rock slipped, from the moment tensor, and the USGS estimate of landslides and liquefaction.

Faulting: Strike-slip
Nodal plane 1: Strike 36°, dip 59°, rake 177°
Nodal plane 2: Strike 128°, dip 87°, rake 31°

How well it is located

Reviewed by a seismologist.

Station coverage gap: 66°
Stations used: 169

Nearest places

Distance and direction from each place to the epicenter, with its forecast.

Nearby

Within 100 km, magnitude 2.5 and up: 4 in the 60 days after this one and 7 in the 30 days before it.

After

Before

Earthquakes today Panama earthquakes Live radar here

Sources

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event usp000chc9 (also filed as gcmtc010704d, gcmt20040107104238, atlas20040107104238, iscgem7228878). Read Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 10:20 AM UTC.