M5.0 Earthquake 8 km NW of Río Grande, Panama — October 12, 2026
2026-10-12 23:27:50 UTC (2026-10-12) · approx. 6:27 PM UTC-5 local
Aftershock of the M6.1 mainshock.
On October 12, 2026 at 23:27 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 8 km NW of Río Grande, Panama, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 7.7817°, -81.3767°. This earthquake was detected by 30 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 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 6.1 mainshock that occurred 10 days ago 15 km W of Río Grande, Panama. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 22 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for weeks to months as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-81.3767°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Río Grande, Panama?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 8 km NW of Río Grande, Panama on October 12, 2026 at 23:27 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 7.7817°, -81.3767°, which is 8 km NW of Río Grande, Panama.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M6.1 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.0 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 6.1 mainshock that occurred earlier 15 km W of Río Grande, Panama. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000u3vr). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, October 12, 2026). M5.0 Earthquake 8 km NW of Río Grande, Panama — October 12, 2026. Retrieved October 22, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000u3vr/