7.7-Magnitude Panama Quake Prompts State of Emergency and US Aid for Earthquakes Today
Panama declared a state of emergency after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck southern regions on Friday, triggering more than 100 aftershocks up to magnitude 6.0, widespread damage across all 10 provinces, and no reported deaths amid earthquakes today. [3] The government acted on Saturday to accelerate access to up to $100 million in humanitarian aid. [4]
Panama Earthquake Triggers State of Emergency
The government of Panama declared a state of emergency Saturday as the aftershocks of two powerful earthquakes that roiled the country shook communities for hours. [3] Officials did not attribute any deaths to the quakes but reported damages in all 10 of Panama's provinces. [3] President Jose Raul Mulino said upon arriving in one of the affected areas that the disaster faced is massive. [4] His government declared a state of emergency on Saturday, a move that will speed up procedures to manage up to $100 million dollars in humanitarian aid, according to Presidency Minister Juan Carlos Orillac. [4] The United States has pledged rapid support. [4] US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X on Friday that he was closely monitoring the situation, with his office rapidly mobilizing resources and personnel to assist. [4] The top US military commander in the region, Francis Donovan, has directed immediate support to help the people of Panama, including on-the-ground support from rotary-wing aircraft and the airlift of key personnel and supplies into the country, US Southern Command said in a statement on Saturday. [4]
Aftershocks and Resident Experiences
After the initial 7.7-magnitude quake around midday on Friday, more than 100 aftershocks have been recorded, some as strong as magnitude 6.0. [4] Residents near the epicentre of a major earthquake in southern Panama began cleaning up on Saturday, traumatised by the previous day's strong shaking that left widespread damage but so far no reported deaths. [4] "This is something we've never seen before. We weren't prepared for this kind of event," said Aldulfo Quintero as he cleared debris from a store in Chitre, about 250km southwest of Panama City. [4] The 41-year-old told AFP he has a great fear that a new earthquake could strike any moment. [4] Like many others in Chitre, the capital of hard-hit Herrera province, 28-year-old Yakshuri Castillo chose to sleep outdoors due to fears of another quake. [4] She told AFP she went into shock when the first quake struck. [4] In Macaracas, also located in Herrera province, 68-year-old retiree Javier Jimenez said he had to sleep at the town's school. [4] "We can't live like this," he said, his home's entrance covered with broken tiles from his roof. [4] "Everyone is afraid because the earthquakes are constant, we don't dare to return," he added. [4] Dozens of homes were damaged in the city, whose 66,000 residents were still without electricity on Saturday. [4]
Panamanians begin recovery efforts after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck southern regions. — Source: channelnewsasia
Damage Assessment Across Provinces
The epicentre of the initial quake was registered by the US Geological Survey about 60km away, near the border of Herrera, Los Santos, and Veraguas provinces. [4] Strong shaking in Panama City, more than 200km from the epicentre, sent panicked people pouring into the streets from the capital's numerous high-rise buildings. [4] While no deaths have been reported from the quake, about 30 people have been treated for minor injuries. [4] Authorities are still assessing the damage in remote areas. [4] Several communities have been cut off due to roadways damaged by the quake. [4] Damage includes collapsed buildings, crushed vehicles, damaged homes and roads, with dozens of homes affected in Chitre and electricity still out for 66,000 residents in Macaracas. [4] Earthquakes are rare in Panama and usually occur in western Chiriqui province, bordering Costa Rica. [4]
International Assistance and Regional Context
The United States, which counts Panama among the members of President Donald Trump's new Shield of the Americas initiative, has pledged rapid support. [4] The Panamanian quake is at least the fourth quake this year in Latin America surpassing 7.0 in magnitude, after devastating back-to-back earthquakes in Venezuela's Guaira in June and a powerful earthquake in western Colombia in August. [4]
Other Earthquakes Recorded Today
Smaller earthquakes were recorded in Russia and Texas on the same day. [1] [2] A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck 82 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia at a depth of 68.7km. [1] A magnitude 2.6 earthquake struck 7 km E of Pearsall, Texas at a depth of 7.7km. [2]
What to watch next: Authorities continue assessing remote areas where some communities remain cut off, while the state of emergency speeds access to up to $100 million in aid and US Southern Command provides on-the-ground rotary-wing aircraft support along with airlift of personnel and supplies.
