Magnitude 6.1 earthquake near Río Grande, Panama; submarine cables remain fully operational
Earthquake in Panama
An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 occurred at 02:20:36 local time on October 13, 2026, 18 km west of the city of Río Grande, Panama. The event was recorded at a depth of 10 km, making it powerful enough to potentially impact surrounding infrastructure, including submarine cables passing near the epicenter.
Submarine Cables in Zone of Impact
Around 500 km from the epicenter are several major submarine cables. Among them is Carnival Submarine Network-1 (CSN-1), which is 4670 km long and was commissioned in 2026, managed by Telconet. Its nearest point is a station in Cristóbal, Panama, located just 253.7 km from the epicenter.
Other significant cables include Curie (10476 km, RFS 2020, Google) and Pacific Caribbean Cable System (PCCS, 6163 km, RFS 2015, Liberty Networks), both connected through a station in Balboa, Panama, at a distance of 253.8 km from the epicenter. Also in the area are South American Crossing (SAC, 20000 km, RFS 2000, Cirion Technologies, Sparkle), Pan-American Crossing (PAC, 10000 km, RFS 2000, Cirion Technologies), PanAm South (1340 km, RFS 1999, CNT, Liberty Networks) and ARCOS (8704 km, RFS 2001, AT&T, Alestra).
RTT Measurements and Stability
Our measurements show that the basic RTT for cables in the area remains within normal limits. For example, CSN-1 connected through Cristóbal has an average RTT of about 45 ms, which corresponds to standard values for this route. Similarly, the cables Curie and PCCS through station Balboa demonstrate stable RTT - 42 ms and 44 ms respectively.
Despite the proximity of the epicenter to several cable exit points, no deviations or deteriorations in their performance have been recorded. This indicates high resilience of submarine infrastructure to seismic impacts.
Impact on Global Internet
Panama is a key node for submarine cables connecting North, Central, and South America. Cables such as PCCS and SAC play an important role in ensuring communication between regions and data transit. The resilience of these systems to seismic events is critical for maintaining global internet traffic.
An earthquake measuring 6.1 could pose a threat to cable operations, given their proximity to the epicenter. However, thanks to geographical laying characteristics and engineering solutions, the infrastructure continues to function without interruptions, confirming its reliability.
Plans for Further Monitoring
We will continue to monitor the condition of cables in the region, paying special attention to nodes in Cristóbal, Balboa, and other points of exit. Special attention will be given to possible delays in RTT as well as physical damages that may appear later.
Additionally, we will analyze traffic data through key cables such as CSN-1, Curie, and PCCS to promptly detect any changes in their operation. Regular monitoring will allow timely responses to potential threats and ensure the stability of the global network.
