On October 9, 2026, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the southern Azuero Peninsula in Herrera province, Panama, followed by more than 80 aftershocks, including a magnitude 6.6 event roughly two hours later. Panama sits above the boundary between the Cocos, Nazca and Caribbean plates, a zone of active convergence that makes the country’s Pacific coast one of Central America’s more seismically exposed regions. The strongest shaking was concentrated across the Azuero Peninsula and the adjacent provinces of Coclé, Los Santos, Herrera and Veraguas, with reported damage extending into Chiriquí, Panamá Oeste and Colón. USGS ShakeMap data indicate a maximum intensity of MMI IX (Violent) near the epicenter, tapering across the surrounding provinces, providing a basis for assessing potential exposure of settlements and cultural heritage sites. The sequence highlights the country’s underappreciated seismic vulnerability and the need to assess potential impacts on colonial-era churches, civic buildings and other built heritage in areas exposed to the strongest shaking.