On Friday Morning a Shallow M6.2 FORESHOCK struck in the North Pacific Ocean 153km from David (Panama).

Written by Earthquakelist.org on March 21st, 2025. Last updated March 24th, 2025.

In the North Pacific Ocean 153 kilometer from David, Panama, a shallow and strong Magnitude 6.2 foreshock occurred in the morning of Friday March 21st, 2025. The USGS has indicated there is a potential risk at tsunami's following this earthquake. Another country near the epicenter is Costa Rica.

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Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the North Pacific Ocean, 75 kilometers (46 mi) off the coast of Panama, 153 kilometer south of David in Chiriquí. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 10 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Mar 21, 2025 09:50AM (Panama Time) - Mar 21, 2025 14:50 Universal Time.
Location:	153 km south of David, Chiriquí, Panama. Coordinates 7°2'55"N 82°23'48"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 6.2 Detected by 30 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.034 .
Depth:	10 km (6 mi) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	V Moderate On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Potential tsunami risk The USGS has indicated there is a potential risk at tsunami's following this earthquake. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Potential tsunami risk

There is a potential tsunami risk in the aftermath of this earthquake, immediately evacuate to higher grounds away from coastal areas and monitor advice from local authorities. The US Geographic Survey organization has indicated a potential risk for tsunami's following this earthquake.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 1.2 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 1.2 million people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is IV, which corresponds with light shaking and likely no damage. Roughly 992,300 people are expected to be exposed to this level.

People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. Roughly 1 million people were exposed to shaking in Panama , with level IV (light shaking, likely no damage) as the highest recorded. Roughly 140 thousand people were exposed to shaking in Costa Rica .

Nearby towns and cities

2 countries can be found within 300km of the epicenter of this earthquake: Panama and Costa Rica .

Located 148 kilometer (92 mi) south of the epicenter of this earthquake, Pedregal (Chiriquí, Panama) is the nearest significant population center. Pedregal experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly IV. That level implies light shaking and likely no damage.

Major cities near this earthquake: Panamá is located 384 km to the north-east (intensity unknown, possibly low). San José is located 371 km to the north-northwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). San Miguelito is located 392 km to the north-east (intensity unknown, possibly low).

An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below. If places don't have intensity data available, it likely means the experienced impact in those places was fairly small.

Overview of nearby places

Earthquake Intensity Map

The intensity in shaking and damage by this earthquake is illustrated through the map below. The highest intensity measured for this earthquake is V.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Shaking reported by 79 people in 2 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 79 people have reported shaking in 42 places in 2 countries (Panama, Costa Rica).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

• San Miguelito, Panamá, Panama: 6 people.
• Panamá, Panamá, Panama: 6 people.
• Horconcitos, Chiriquí, Panama: 5 people.
• Boquete, Chiriquí, Panama: 5 people.
• Alto de la Estancia, Coclé, Panama: 4 people.
• Almirante, Bocas del Toro, Panama: 3 people.
• San Isidro (San Isidro de El General), San José, Costa Rica: 3 people.
• Mercedes, San José, Costa Rica: 3 people.
• Río Hato, Coclé, Panama: 3 people.
• Cahuita, Limón, Costa Rica: 2 people.

This is likely a foreshock

This earthquake was followed by a stronger MAG-6.5 earthquake, classifying this earthquake as a foreshock.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

More earthquakes coming?

Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.

It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.

Earthquakes like this are common in the region

Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since April 4th, 2023, when a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit 58 km (36 mi) further north. An even stronger magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck on October 20th, 2022.

In total, 3 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.2 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 3 years.

Sources

Last updated 24/03/25 04:08 (). This article contains currently available information about the earthquake and is automatically composed. We continue to update this article up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.

1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000pllt
2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20250321_0000149
3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
4. Google Maps: Static API
5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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