‘It was a terrible thing’: Panama declares state of emergency as quake aftershocks rattle communities

The government of Panama declared a nationwide state of emergency on Saturday following a pair of intense earthquakes and a wave of persistent aftershocks that damaged infrastructure across the country.

The seismic events struck on Friday, registering magnitudes of 7.7 and 6.6, according to official reports. Seismologists subsequently documented over 100 aftershocks, with several tremors reaching magnitudes as high as 5.8, 5.5, and 5.2. Despite the scale of the shaking, authorities confirmed that no fatalities had been linked to the disaster, though at least 27 people suffered minor to moderate injuries.

Announcing the decree in Panama City, Presidential Minister Juan Carlos Orillac noted that the tremors caused structural harm across all 10 provinces and two Indigenous territories. The primary impact was felt throughout the central region, particularly in the provinces of Los Santos, Herrera, Cocle, and Veraguas.

Data from the National Civil Protection System indicated that roughly 420 residences and an equal number of public schools suffered damage. Infrastructure impacts also extended to at least 13 churches, nine bridges, and seven hotels, alongside various roads and healthcare centers. In La Villa de Los Santos, situated around 40 miles from the primary origin point, multiple homes and a historic colonial-era Catholic church collapsed.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the initial 7.7-magnitude earthquake occurred at a depth of roughly six miles, centered about six miles southwest of Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province. The tremors were powerful enough to be felt across the border in neighboring Colombia and sparked widespread evacuations in multiple Panamanian cities.

Local emergency teams reported that no people were missing by Saturday, although blocked roadways and landslides temporarily severed access to several isolated settlements. Seismology experts, including Carlos Valdes of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, suggested that rigorous building standards, particularly enforced in the capital, likely played a decisive role in preventing substantial loss of life.

International assistance began arriving shortly after the emergency declaration. Leaders from regional partners including Chile, Uruguay, and Guatemala reached out to offer resources. In response, the United States State Department deployed a specialized disaster response unit to aid Panamanian officials with ground assessments and search operations, while also committing $5 million in humanitarian relief funds. Additionally, U.S. Southern Command aircraft transported roughly 2,000 pounds of food supplies to assist impacted populations.