A 7.7 Quake Shook Panama and America Was There Within a Day. That Is What a Strong Neighbor Does
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck central Panama on Oct. 9, damaging homes and schools in all 10 provinces. In our view, the fast U.S. response, from search-and-rescue experts to helicopters, is America First leadership in our own hemisphere.
By Clara Hughes
ALTAS WORLD NEWS OPINION | By Clara Hughes, Chief Opinion Editor | October 11, 2026 | 6-min read When a neighbor's house shakes, a good neighbor shows up. On Friday, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck central Panama, followed by a magnitude 6.6 quake, toppling buildings, cracking roads and sending people pouring out of Panama City's high-rises [1][2]. Within 24 hours, an American search-and-rescue team was on the ground [3]. In our view, the fast U.S. response is exactly what America First looks like in our own hemisphere: helping a friend, protecting Americans abroad and standing by the partner that runs one of the world's most important waterways. Key Takeaways The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the magnitude 7.7 quake at 17:56 UTC on Oct. 9 near Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province [1][4]. Officials reported no deaths and 27 people injured, but damage in all 10 provinces and two Indigenous territories, including roughly 420 homes and about as many public schools [1]. The State Department deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team with two search-and-rescue technical teams of 20 people and committed $5 million in assistance [3]. Here is why this