Daniel Noboa Offers Ecuador Aid to Panama After 7.7 Earthquake
- Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa offered official humanitarian aid to Panama following a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck the Central American nation on October 9, 2026.
- The earthquake struck on the afternoon of October 9, 2026, at 12:56 local time, according to data from the United States Geological Survey cited by Infobae.
- The shaking caused noticeable structural damage to buildings and roads near the epicentral zone, including impacts on medical facilities such as the Hospital Aquilino Tejeira in Penonomé, according...
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa offered official humanitarian aid to Panama following a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck the Central American nation on October 9, 2026.
Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Strikes Tonosi
The earthquake struck on the afternoon of October 9, 2026, at 12:56 local time, according to data from the United States Geological Survey cited by Infobae. The USGS placed the epicenter 12 kilometers from the tourist town of Tonosí in southwestern Panama, roughly 239 kilometers from Panama City. The tremor registered at a depth of 10 kilometers, as reported by La República.
The shaking caused noticeable structural damage to buildings and roads near the epicentral zone, including impacts on medical facilities such as the Hospital Aquilino Tejeira in Penonomé, according to photographic evidence cited by La República. The tremor was strong enough to prompt regional tsunami alerts in Ecuador and other neighboring countries before authorities later cancelled them, Primicias reported.
President Noboa Offers Immediate Assistance
Minutes after the disaster, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa took to the social media platform X to announce his administration’s readiness to assist.
Toda nuestra solidaridad con Panamá y con las familias afectadas por el terremoto. Ecuador está preparado para brindar ayuda y colaborar en las labores de atención a nuestros hermanos panameños
Daniel Noboa
Primicias noted that Noboa had previously met with Panamanian President Raúl Mulino in Guayaquil on September 4, 2026.
The Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a parallel statement emphasizing bilateral ties. Nuestra amistad se fortalece en los momentos difíciles,
the ministry stated, according to Primicias. The foreign service also noted that more than 3,000 Ecuadorian citizens reside in Panama.
Consular Channels Open for Affected Citizens
To assist nationals in the earthquake zone, the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry established emergency communication channels. Primicias reported that affected citizens can reach consular staff by phone at +507 68 986 511 or via email at cecupanama@cancilleria.gob.ec.
Within Panama, President Raúl Mulino addressed the public internally, urging citizens to remain calm and avoid spreading panic or disorder. Infobae and Primicias noted that Mulino ordered the immediate mobilization of personnel, government resources, and ministry response teams across the national territory to handle rescue and prevention efforts. As of the initial response window, the Panamanian government has not publicly answered Noboa’s specific offer of foreign state assistance.