July 11, 1976 Earthquake: Darien, Panama

Name: July 11, 1976 Earthquake: Darien, Panama
Start: 1976-07-11
Location: Darien, Panama

July 11, 1976 · M6.7 · 5 deaths

A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Darien, Panama on July 11, 1976 at 16:54:31 UTC, 22 km below the surface. It killed 5 people.

Map

Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.

The earthquake

Date: July 11, 1976
Time: 16:54:31 UTC
Place: Darien, Panama
Magnitude: 6.7 (Ms)
Focal depth: 22 km (14 mi)
Tsunami: Yes: the tsunami it caused
Epicenter: 7.400° N, 78.100° W
Country: Panama

The toll

Deaths: 5
Injuries: 7
Damage: Limited (under about $1 million)

Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

Details for two earthquakes have been combined by various publications including reference #273.

Reference #1053 details the first earthquake as:

Date: 1976, 07, 11; Time: 16:54:31.8; Lat: 7.337, Long: -78.47; Ms 6.7; Mb 6.3; Description: Damage in Jaque area. Felt in Colombia and Western Venezuela. Mag. 6.6 Ms(Pas), 6.8 Ms (Brk).

Reference #1053 details the second earthquake as:

Date: 1976, 07, 11; Time: 20:41:47.5; Lat: 7.409, Long: -78.127; Ms 7.0; Mb 6.2 Description: 7 injured and damage in Panama-Colombia border area.

Earthquake with epicenter in Pacific was felt through out the country. Moderate damages in province of Darien. Large landslides and 5 deaths reported in Jacque for which an Intensity MM Grade VIII is assigned. Intensity MM Grade VII is assigned in La Palma; VI in Bayano; V in Panama City. (refers to the second earthquake)(reference #124)

7 injured, damage (refers to the second earthquake) (reference #45)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

Significant earthquakes of 1976 The 1900s Every quake the USGS located in 1976 Recent earthquakes near here This day in weather history

Sources

Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 10280.