Magnitude 6.7 Earthquake to the south of Panama.

The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 6.7 Earthquake at a depth of 10.0 km, about 62 km off the south coast of Chiriquí Province on the Pacific Coast of Panama, slightly before 7.00 am local time (slightly before midday GMT) on Thursday 20 October 2022. There are no reports of any damage or casualties associated with this event, though it was felt across much of Panama and Costa Rica.

The approximate location of the 20 October 2022 Pananma Earthquake. USGS.

Panama lies on a tectonic microplate known as the Panama Plate or Panama Block, which has broken away from the North American Plate within the last 20 million years, and is now caught between the Caribbean, Cocos, Nazca and South American Plates. The southern margin of this is both a convergent and a transform margin, as the Nazca Plate moves past the Panama plate in a westerly direction, but is also being partially subducted beneath Panama. This is not a smooth process; the two plates continually stick together, then break apart once the pressure builds up sufficiently, causing Earthquakes in the process.

The tectonic plates underlying Central America and the surrounding areas. Wikimedia Commons.

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Magnitude 6.6 Earthquake off the Burica Peninsula, Panama.

The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 6.6 Earthquake ata depth of 20 km, about 20 km southeast of the town of Punta de Burica, on the tip of the Burica Peninsula on the Pacific Coast of western Panama, slightly befroe 3.55 am local time (slightly before 8.55 am GMT) on Monday 8 December 2014. This is was a large event, and this close to land at this shallow a depth could potentially have been very dangerous, though on this occasion there are no reports of any damage or casualties, though people reported feeling the event as far away as Panama City and northern Coasta Rica. Nor was there any sign of a tsunami wave caused by the quake.

The approximate location of the 8 December 2014 Pananma Earthquake. Google Maps.

Panama lies on a tectonic microplate known as the Panama Plate or Panama Block, which has broken away from the North American Plate within the last 20 million years, and is now caught between the Caribbean, Cocos, Nazca and South American Plates. The southern margin of this is both a convergent and a transform margin, as the Nazca Plate moves past the Panama plate in a westerly direction, but is also being partially subducted beneath Panama. This is not a smooth process; the two plates continually stick together, then break apart once the pressure builds up sufficiently, causing Earthquakes in the process.

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Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake in southwest Panama.

The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 5.1 Earthquake at a depth of 56.9 km, 3 km to the south of the town of Guarumal near the Pacific...

Magnitude 4.6 Earthquake in southwest Panama.

The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 4.6 Earthquake at a depth of 12.9 km, 11 km north of the city of Puerto Armuelles on the west of...

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Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake in southwest Panama.

The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 5.1 Earthquake at a depth of 56.9 km, 3 km to the south of the town of Guarumal near the Pacific coast of Chiriquí Province in Panama, slightly before 10.30 am local time (3.30 pm GMT) on Sunday 27 October 2013. There are no reports of any damage or casualties arising from this event, but people reported feeling it across Costa Rica and western Panama.

The approximate location of the 27 October 2013 Panama Earthquake. Google Maps.

Panama lies on a tectonic microplate known as the Panama Plate or Panama Block, which has broken away from the North American Plate within the last 20 million years, and is now caught between the Caribbean, Cocos, Nazca and South American Plates. The southern margin of this is both a convergent and a transform margin, as the Nazca Plate moves past the Panama plate in a westerly direction, but is also being partially subducted beneath Panama. This is not a smooth process; the two plates continually stick together, then break apart once the pressure builds up sufficiently, causing Earthquakes in the process.

See also Magnitude 4.6 Earthquake in southwest Panama, Magnitude 6.0 Earthquake off the coast of northwest Costa Rica, Eruption on Mount Turrialba, Costa Rica, Eruption on Mount Poás, Costa Rica and Substantial Earthquake in Costa Rica.

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Magnitude 4.6 Earthquake in southwest Panama.

The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 4.6 Earthquake at a depth of 12.9 km, 11 km north of the city of Puerto Armuelles on the west of Panama's Pacific coast, slightly before 5.35 pm local time (slightly before 10.35 pm GMT) on Saturday 26 October 2013. There are no reports of any damage or casualties arising from this event, though it is likely to have been felt locally.

The approximate location of the 26 October 2013 Panama Earthquake. Google Maps.

Panama lies on a tectonic microplate known as the Panama Plate or Panama Block, which has broken away from the North American Plate within the last 20 million years, and is now caught between the Caribbean, Cocos, Nazca and South American Plates. The southern margin of this is both a convergent and a transform margin, as the Nazca Plate moves past the Panama plate in a westerly direction, but is also being partially subducted beneath Panama. This is not a smooth process; the two plates continually stick together, then break apart once the pressure builds up sufficiently, causing Earthquakes in the process.

See also Magnitude 6.0 Earthquake off the coast of northwest Costa Rica, Eruption on Mount Turrialba, Costa Rica, Eruption on Mount Poás, Costa Rica, Substantial Earthquake in Costa Rica and Strong Earthquake to the south of Panama.

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Strong Earthquake to the south of Panama.

On Sunday 3 June 2012, at 10.15 pm local time (3.15 am on Monday 4 June, GMT), an Earthquake struck 325 km off the south coast of Panama, measured by the United States Geological Survey as measuring 6.4 on the Richter Scale and occurring at a depth of 5.9 km. There are no reports of any damage or injuries, but is was felt in coastal regions, and in some places apparently caused some degree of alarm. No tsunami warning has been issued. 

Map showing the location of the quake. Rings reflect the intensity of shaking. USGS.

Panama lies on a tectonic microplate known as the Panama Plate or Panama Block, which has broken away from the North American Plate within the last 20 million years, and is now caught between the Caribbean, Cocos, Nazca and South American Plates. The southern margin of this is both a convergent and a transform margin, as the Nazca Plate moves past the Panama plate in a westerly direction, but is also being partially subducted beneath Panama. It was on this margin that the 3 June quake occurred.

Map showing the location and directions of movement of the Caribbean (CA), Cocos (CO), Nazca (NZ) and Panama (PB) Plates. The Panama Fracture Zone (PFZ) separates the Cocos and Nazca Plates. The Cocos Ridge, Coiba Ridge (CR) and Malpelo Ridge (MRi) are areas of seafloor extension. Morell et al. (2008).

See also Los Angeles shaken by Earthquake, Eruption on Rincón de la Vieja, Costa Rica, Earthquake in the Gulf of California, Oaxaca region of Mexico struck by second major Earthquake in two weeks and Earthquakes on Sciency Thoughts YouTube.

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