Full Breakdown
Panama Declares State of Emergency After Dual Quakes
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On Friday, two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.7 and 6.6 magnitude struck central Panama, with the larger quake centered about 10 km southwest of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province. More than 100 aftershocks followed, including magnitudes of 5.8, 5.5 and 5.2. The tremors were felt across all ten provinces and two Indigenous territories, prompting evacuations and a nationwide state of emergency declared on Saturday.
Background & Context
Panama sits on the “Ring of Fire,” where the Cocos, Nazca and Caribbean plates converge, making the region prone to frequent seismic activity. Recent months have seen major quakes in neighboring Venezuela, Colombia and Costa Rica, each causing significant loss of life. The last major earthquake to cause widespread damage in Panama occurred in 1991.
Damage and Human Impact
Civil protection officials reported roughly 420 homes and a similar number of public schools damaged, along with seven hotels, at least 13 churches and nine bridges. The colonial-era Church of San Atanasio in La Villa de Los Santos collapsed, and a historic Catholic church in the same district suffered partial collapse. Injuries were recorded for 27 people, ranging from minor to moderate. Landslides left some communities isolated, and rising sea levels forced the evacuation of about 300 residents on Isla Cana. In Penonomé, a shelter housed 13 people, including five children. Critical infrastructure was affected: a water-treatment plant operated at 20 % capacity, and Tocumen International Airport briefly halted operations before reopening.
Official Statements & Responses
Presidential Minister Juan Carlos Orillac announced the emergency, emphasizing damage to homes, schools, health facilities, roads and hotels. Deputy director of the National Civil Protection System Malitzie Rivera confirmed the injury count. Carlos Valdes, head of the Seismology Department at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, suggested Panama’s comparatively low casualty toll may reflect the country’s strict building codes. President Laurentino Cortizo Mulino thanked leaders of Chile, Uruguay and Guatemala for their support. The U.S. Department of State mobilized a disaster-response team and pledged $5 million in humanitarian aid, while U.S. Southern Command delivered 2,000 pounds of food via helicopters.
Verbatim Quote
- “We've been here since 1 p.m. yesterday; we haven't moved,” — Tony Jimenez — Tony Jimenez, resident affected by the quake.