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Panama declared a state of emergency Saturday following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake and over 100 aftershocks. Damage was reported in all provinces, with 27 injuries and no deaths attributed to the quakes.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Panama’s government declared a state of emergency on Saturday following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country on Friday. The initial magnitude 7.7 quake and a subsequent magnitude 6.6 aftershock caused widespread damage across all 10 of Panama’s provinces and two Indigenous territories. While officials reported 27 injuries ranging from minor to moderate, no deaths were attributed to the seismic events as of Saturday.
The earthquakes, centered in the central province of Herrera, toppled buildings near the epicenter and prompted evacuations. Presidential Minister Juan Carlos Orillac announced the emergency in Panama City, stating that homes, schools, healthcare facilities, roads, and hotels were among the damaged facilities. According to the National Civil Protection System, roughly 420 homes and a similar number of public schools sustained damage. The agency also reported that seven hotels, at least 13 churches, and nine bridges were affected.
Most of the damage was concentrated in the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera, Cocle, and Los Santos. In La Villa de Los Santos, a colonial-era community, homes and the historical Catholic Church of San Atanasio collapsed. Tony Jiménez, a resident whose home partially collapsed, described the event as "truly intense," noting he had never experienced anything like it in his 90 years.
In Panama City, one water treatment plant operated at 20% capacity on Saturday, and tent facilities with cots were set up at six hospitals. The Panama Canal Authority stated that operations along the global trade route continued normally, with technical teams inspecting facilities for possible damage.
Seismologists recorded more than 100 aftershocks following the main quakes, including tremors measuring magnitude 5.8, 5.5, and 5.2. The US Geological Survey (USGS) placed the mainshock about 10 kilometers southwest of Pitaloza Arriba at a depth of 10 kilometers. Carlos Valdés, head of the seismology department at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, suggested that Panama’s strict building codes, particularly for skyscrapers in the capital, may have helped prevent a higher death toll.
The USGS issued a red alert in its PAGER impact system, estimating that about 4.6 million people felt moderate to severe shaking. The agency’s aftershock forecast indicated a high probability of continued seismic activity, with a 96% chance of at least one more magnitude 5 or larger aftershock in the week following the event.
The seismic activity disrupted travel across the region. Tocumen International Airport in Panama City temporarily suspended operations after the first quake but reopened hours later. However, hundreds of travelers on Panama-based airlines, including Copa Airlines, were left stranded as connections were canceled or delayed. Sunwing, a Canadian travel provider, stated that it was working to return guests to Montreal, noting that flight cancellations occurred due to extended airport closures caused by aftershocks.
International aid efforts were mobilized quickly. The US Department of State announced it had mobilized a disaster response team to assist with search and rescue and assessments, pledging $5 million for humanitarian assistance. US Southern Command reported that helicopters delivered 2,000 pounds of food to affected communities. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokespersons expressed sympathies to the Panamanian government and people, stating there were no reports of casualties involving Chinese nationals.
The declaration of a state of emergency highlights the significant infrastructure damage and ongoing risk posed by aftershocks in a region critical to global trade. The Panama Canal’s continued operation is vital for international shipping, while the disruption to air travel affects connectivity across Latin America. The relatively low casualty count compared to recent quakes in Venezuela and Colombia underscores the importance of building codes in seismic zones, though the economic impact and long-term recovery efforts remain substantial.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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