M4.9 Earthquake 12 km SSW of Tebario, Panama — October 9, 2026
2026-10-09 20:20:23 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 3:20 PM UTC-5 local
Aftershock of the M6.6 mainshock.
On October 9, 2026 at 20:20 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 12 km SSW of Tebario, Panama, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 7.6169°, -81.0268°. This earthquake was detected by 33 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 6.6 mainshock that occurred 1 hour ago 14 km W of Río Grande, Panama. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for weeks to months as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-81.0268°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Tebario, Panama?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 12 km SSW of Tebario, Panama on October 9, 2026 at 20:20 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 7.6169°, -81.0268°, which is 12 km SSW of Tebario, Panama.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M6.6 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.9 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 6.6 mainshock that occurred earlier 14 km W of Río Grande, Panama. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000u19s). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, October 9, 2026). M4.9 Earthquake 12 km SSW of Tebario, Panama — October 9, 2026. Retrieved October 9, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000u19s/