M4.5 Earthquake 215 km S of Burica, Panama — October 20, 2026
2026-10-20 17:18:36 UTC (2 hours ago) · approx. 11:18 AM UTC-6 local
Aftershock of the M5.4 mainshock.
On October 20, 2026 at 17:18 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 215 km S of Burica, Panama, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 6.0926°, -82.6622°. This earthquake was detected by 80 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 5.4 mainshock that occurred 3 hours ago 192 km S of Burica, Panama. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-82.6622°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Burica, Panama?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 215 km S of Burica, Panama on October 20, 2026 at 17:18 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 6.0926°, -82.6622°, which is 215 km S of Burica, 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 M5.4 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.5 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.4 mainshock that occurred earlier 192 km S of Burica, Panama. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000u3nn). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, October 20, 2026). M4.5 Earthquake 215 km S of Burica, Panama — October 20, 2026. Retrieved October 20, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000u3nn/