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Panama · Bocas del Toro

M5.0 Earthquake near Bocas del Toro (Panama)

UTC time: 2026-02-28 17:11:56 UTC Local time: —
Earthquake newsQuakeMap24
Archive record · original publication time was not recorded

Automatically generated from measurement data by QuakeMap24. Values may change after further analysis.

Magnitude
M5.0
Depth
10.0 km
Source
USGS

Bocas del Toro · Bocas del Toro

Country overview

Map

M5.0 Earthquake near Bocas del Toro (Panama) · 2026-02-28 — Map showing the location of the epicenter
M5.0 Earthquake near Bocas del Toro (Panama) · 2026-02-28 — Map showing the location of the epicenter

About this earthquake

On February 28, 2026 at 17:11 UTC, a magnitude M5.0 earthquake occurred near Bocas del Toro (Panama). With a focal depth of about 10 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Events of this size can cause damage near the epicenter.

The data is provided by USGS and cross-checked across seismological networks. Panama: over the past 24 hours, QuakeMap24 logged 16 earthquakes, the strongest at M4.5.

Details

ID
49d6be5064881a5298b8fecf8d6c0a2b40204273
Magnitude
M5.0
Depth
10.0 km
UTC time
2026-02-28 17:11:56 UTC
Local time
—
Country
Panama
State
Bocas del Toro
City
Bocas del Toro
Source
usgs
Coordinates
9.42370, -81.87940
Temperature
27.1°C

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 10 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 10 km
Shallow
10 km
10 km — close to the regional average (12.9 km)
Regional average: 12.9 km
Why depth matters

Shallow quakes release energy near the surface — shaking is felt more strongly and damage potential is higher.

Depth classes per USGS

Nearby population centers

Distances are straight-line distances from the epicenter. Population data: GeoNames.

PlaceDistanceDirectionPopulation
Changuinola70.3 kmW17'997
San José248.3 kmW335'007
Managua564.5 kmNW973'087

GeoNames · CC BY 4.0

Volcanoes nearby

  • Baru
    Distance: 100 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 3'474 m ·Last eruption: 1550 ·Panama
  • Turrialba
    Distance: 217 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 3'340 m ·Last eruption: 2022 ·Costa Rica
  • Irazu
    Distance: 225 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 3'436 m ·Last eruption: 1977 ·Costa Rica
  • Barva
    Distance: 256 km ·Complex ·Elevation: 2'906 m ·Last eruption: -6050 ·Costa Rica
  • Poas Activity reported
    Distance: 272 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'697 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·Costa Rica
  • Platanar
    Distance: 289 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 2'267 m ·Costa Rica

Radius · 100 km

Nearby infrastructure

Up to 3 nearest sites per category

Airports

  • Bocas del Toro "Isla Colón" International AirportPanama · BOC · MPBO
    41.8 kmStraight-line distance
  • Changuinola Captain Manuel Niño International AirportPanama · CHX · MPCH
    69.8 kmStraight-line distance

Source: OurAirports · Dataset date: 2026-10-05

This selection shows geographic proximity, not a hazard zone or confirmed impacts. Distances use recorded site coordinates. Sources & data dates

Subsequent earthquakes nearby

Events recorded after this earthquake within 150 km. They are not automatically classified as aftershocks.

First 6 hours1
First 24 hours1
First 72 hours1
Strongest subsequent eventM3.2
M2.52026-02-28 23:08:38 UTC130.1 kmSan Andres M2.62026-03-04 20:30:38 UTC136.7 kmPANAMA-COSTA RICA BORDER REGION M2.52026-03-07 13:55:46 UTC64.4 kmPANAMA-COSTA RICA BORDER REGION M2.62026-03-09 18:36:28 UTC84.4 kmGuabito M2.62026-03-14 05:35:28 UTC132.6 kmNORTH OF PANAMA M2.62026-03-17 11:46:23 UTC73.9 kmPANAMA-COSTA RICA BORDER REGION M2.52026-03-25 10:17:02 UTC147.5 kmPANAMA-COSTA RICA BORDER REGION M2.72026-03-26 11:22:20 UTC135.8 kmSanta Cruz M3.22026-03-28 03:02:14 UTC112.2 kmTeribe M2.62026-03-28 09:57:22 UTC140.1 kmPANAMA-COSTA RICA BORDER REGION M2.82026-03-30 13:33:17 UTC124.2 kmCOSTA RICA

Comparison of seismic sources

2 sources currently report magnitudes from M5.0 to M5.1.

Measurements can differ because agencies use different networks and calculation methods. Values may be revised.

SourceMagnitudeDepthPosition difference
USPM5.110.0 km3.7 km
USGSM5.010.0 km0.0 km

Panama

Context for this earthquake

05 Oct 2025 – 05 Oct 2026 · M ≥ 3.0 · 126 Catalogue entries

Sufficiently reliable matching data are not currently available for a direct comparison. The area profile shows the available records and their limitations.

Open seismic profile

Historical context nearby

Comparison with recorded earthquakes before this event within 150 km.

Magnitude rank#1
Earlier events M≥49
Earlier events M≥51
Compared since2025-01-15

The QuakeMap24 comparison dataset begins on 2024-03-23. Earlier earthquakes may not be included.

Strongest earlier events

M5.02025-06-07 04:06:37 UTC114.1 km M4.82026-02-18 09:06:35 UTC82.5 kmLimón M4.72026-02-18 09:06:35 UTC82.2 kmSixaola M4.62025-10-25 23:45:13 UTC137.7 kmPANAMA-COSTA RICA BORDER REGION M4.52025-05-18 00:10:30 UTC56.9 kmPANAMA

Historic earthquake map · Panama

Open history map
Explore recent and long-term earthquake activity in this country. Use filters to narrow down by magnitude, depth, and date range.

Country statistics · Panama

Country overview
View earthquake KPIs, strongest and latest events, and averages for this country.

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