1882 Panama earthquake

1882 Panama earthquake
UTC time1882-09-07 08:50
Local dateSeptember 7, 1882
Local time~3:50 (UTC-5)
Duration1 minute
Magnitude7.9–8.3 Ms
DepthUnknown
Epicenter10°00′N 79°00′W / 10.0°N 79.0°W / 10.0; -79.0
Areas affectedPanama
Max. intensityMMI XI (Extreme)
Tsunami3 meters
LandslidesYes
Casualties250 deaths

The 1882 Panama earthquake occurred on September 7 at around 03:50 (UTC-5). The earthquake measured a magnitude between 7.9 and 8.3 on the surface-wave magnitude scale, making it the largest earthquake recorded in Panamanian history. It struck the San Blas Islands and was strongly felt in the City of Colón as well as the capital of Panama City. The earthquake also produced a major tsunami that had a maximum run-up of 3 meters (9.84 ft.). In total, the earthquake killed 250 people, 75 of which were from the tsunami. The earthquake and tsunami also halted the construction of the Panama Canal by a few months.