M4.8 Earthquake 2 km NW of La Esperanza, Panama — February 24, 2026
2026-02-24 20:38:28 UTC (2026-02-24) · approx. 2:38 PM UTC-6 local
Felt by 18 people across nearby locations.
On February 24, 2026 at 20:38 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 2 km NW of La Esperanza, Panama, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 8.4231°, -82.8039°. This earthquake was detected by 103 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 361, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 18 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Earthquake Details
-82.8039°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near La Esperanza, Panama?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 2 km NW of La Esperanza, Panama on February 24, 2026 at 20:38 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 8.4231°, -82.8039°, which is 2 km NW of La Esperanza, Panama.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000s021). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, February 24, 2026). M4.8 Earthquake 2 km NW of La Esperanza, Panama — February 24, 2026. Retrieved May 19, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000s021/