M4.5 Earthquake 26 km SSW of Zapotillo, Panama — October 13, 2026
2026-10-13 12:51:32 UTC (7 hours ago) · approx. 7:51 AM UTC-5 local
Aftershock of the M6.1 mainshock.
On October 13, 2026 at 12:51 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 26 km SSW of Zapotillo, Panama, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 7.7902°, -81.6085°. This earthquake was detected by 43 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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 6.1 mainshock that occurred 20 hours ago 17 km W of Río Grande, Panama. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 17 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for weeks to months as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-81.6085°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Zapotillo, Panama?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 26 km SSW of Zapotillo, Panama on October 13, 2026 at 12:51 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 7.7902°, -81.6085°, which is 26 km SSW of Zapotillo, 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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M6.1 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.5 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 6.1 mainshock that occurred earlier 17 km W of Río Grande, Panama. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000u21d). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, October 13, 2026). M4.5 Earthquake 26 km SSW of Zapotillo, Panama — October 13, 2026. Retrieved October 13, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000u21d/