M4.5 Earthquake 4 km SSW of Cerro Punta, Panama — May 9, 2026
2026-05-09 20:26:10 UTC (2026-05-09) · approx. 2:26 PM UTC-6 local
On May 9, 2026 at 20:26 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 4 km SSW of Cerro Punta, Panama, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 8.8156°, -82.5942°. This earthquake was detected by 31 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-82.5942°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Cerro Punta, Panama?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 4 km SSW of Cerro Punta, Panama on May 9, 2026 at 20:26 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 8.8156°, -82.5942°, which is 4 km SSW of Cerro Punta, Panama.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000swhx). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 9, 2026). M4.5 Earthquake 4 km SSW of Cerro Punta, Panama — May 9, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000swhx/