July 4, 2009 Earthquake: Panama City

Name: July 4, 2009 Earthquake: Panama City
Start: 2009-07-04
Location: Panama City

July 4, 2009 · M6

A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Panama City on July 4, 2009 at 06:49:35 UTC, 38 km below the surface.

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 4, 2009
Time: 06:49:35 UTC
Place: Panama City
Magnitude: 6 (Mw)
Focal depth: 38 km (24 mi)
Intensity: 5 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Tsunami: None recorded
Epicenter: 9.590° N, 78.966° W
Country: Panama

The toll

Injuries: 32
Damage: Limited (under about $1 million)
Houses damaged: 10 with its tsunami and other effects

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.

At least 32 people injured and 10 buildings

damaged (V) in the Panama City area. Felt (V) at

Alcaldediaz, Balboa, Cativa, Cerro Azul, Chame, La

Cabima, Las Guias, Margarita, Tocumen and Veracruz;

(IV) at Ancon, Anton, Arraijan, Colon, La Chorrera,

Las Cumbres, Penonome, Sabanitas and San Miguelito;

(III) at Bejuco, Chilibre, Nueva Gorgona, Paraiso,

Puerto Pilon, Taboga and Vista Alegre. Also felt at

Almirante, Boquete, Caimitillo, Cerro Cama, Chepo,

Chitre, Cocle, El Espino, El Porvenir, Gatun, La

Herradura, Las Tablas, Maria Chiquita, Nargena, Nuevo

Arraijan, Pacora, Portobelo, Puerto Caimito, Remedios,

Rio Hato, Rio Rita, Sajalices, San Carlos, Santa

Clara, Santiago and Santo Domingo. Felt (II) at

Barranquilla, Colombia. Also felt at Cartagena and

Santa Marta. (reference #1053)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

Significant earthquakes of 2009 The 2000s Every quake the USGS located in 2009 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 8388.