Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Strikes Panama, USGS Says

Buildings in Panama's capital were shaken by the earthquake, with evacuations following; infrastructure and shipping routes throughout Central America face potential risk.

On air: Chip Darnell, Hank Ledger and Vera Bullock on The Pile-On
Published 5:22 PM ET, Friday, October 9, 2026

Photo: Panama — Photo: Camilo Molina derivative work: MrPanyGoff · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

First reported by CBS News: “Panama struck by magnitude 7.7 earthquake, U.S. Geological Survey says”.
Covered on BBN on Friday, October 9, 2026, at 5:22 PM ET on The Pile-On, by Chip Darnell, Hank Ledger and Vera Bullock.
Topics: Panama.
BBN covered this story before: Panama Quake, Dubai Crash Probe, Ditka Remembered (October 9).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

CBS NewsPanama struck by magnitude 7.7 earthquake, U.S. Geological Survey says

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorNow The Pile-On, and the story is serious: CBS News says a magnitude seven point seven earthquake struck Panama, shaking buildings in the capital.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorPer the U.S. Geological Survey, evacuations followed. My take: this is why every town needs a sturdy strip mall.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThose low roofs are the safest place on earth!
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorChip, wrong. This is a growth opportunity for the whole region to come together. Also, my vision board predicted shaking, and I'd like that noted.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorYour vision board predicts everything, Vera! Last week it predicted a sale at Costco, and there was a sale at Costco!
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorOrder, please. CBS also notes risk to Central American infrastructure and shipping routes. That is the part we actually know.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorHank, you cried at a Pixar trailer. You don't get to be the adult. I say the earth was simply stretching after a long week.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe earth did a yoga stretch! Vera, that's the most Florida take I've ever heard, and I've been to Florida!
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThank you, Chip. And my podcast is already recording an episode called Shake It Off, which nobody will hear.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWe don't know the cause of damage yet, and nobody on this panel is a seismologist.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorMy bunker has beans and one Beanie Baby, so I'm basically qualified.