Earthquake in Panama leaves at least 26 injured and damage to 188 schools as aftershocks continue

The earthquake that shook Panama left damage to homes, hospitals and roads, while continuous aftershocks led numerous families to spend the night outside their homes. EFE/ Bienvenido Velasco The earthquake that shook Panama on Friday, October 9, left at least 26 people with minor injuries, damage to 188 educational centers and numerous homes, hospitals, bridges and roads affected, according to the second report of the National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc). The emergency extended through the night, when families from Los Santos, Herrera and Veraguas decided to remain outside their residences due to the continuation of the aftershocks. The new tally represents an increase over the first official report, which identified at least 15 injured students and damage to emergency facilities. The update expands the inventory of compromised infrastructure, although it still does not establish a definitive figure of affected buildings. So far no fatalities or missing persons have been reported, while inspections in the communities continue. Medical personnel at hospitals in Los Santos, Coclé and Veraguas continued attending to patients in outdoor areas during the night, due to the aftershocks and the safety evaluations of the facilities. EFE/ Bienvenido Velasco The seismic activity also gave no respite during the night. The Institute of Geosciences of the University of Panama had counted more than 150 aftershocks, some exceeding magnitude 6, after the main movement occurred at midday. The subsequent tremors kept numerous families in open spaces, fearing to return to homes that continued experiencing shaking. In Panama City, Omar Recreational Park remained open throughout Friday night to receive those who preferred to stay outside their residences. The Office of the First Lady also enabled the park's Club House, while residents of apartment buildings sought open spaces due to the persistence of the seismic movements. Los Santos figures among the provinces with the greatest impacts. Sinaproc counted 14 residences and five hotels with partial damage, six people injured, four hospitals affected, 22 educational centers, two churches and 18 government buildings compromised. In addition, four bridges and three sections of road infrastructure presented damage, along with fire station and National Police facilities. In Los Santos, the earthquake caused damage to homes, hotels, four hospitals and several bridges, in addition to leaving communities cut off due to the effects on the roads. Video captureThe emergency also altered health care in this province. Hospitals in Los Santos continued attending to patients in outdoor areas during the night, as a preventive measure against the aftershocks and the damage registered in their facilities. The situation forced part of the medical services to be kept outside the buildings, while safety conditions were being evaluated. On Isla Cañas, approximately 300 people were evacuated to the community of Cañas due to the rise in sea level. The report also identifies five communities cut off by damage to bridges, roads and landslides, a situation that complicates the delivery of assistance and infrastructure evaluations. In Herrera, 30 homes presented partial damage and two others total damage, while one person suffered minor injuries. The province registers impacts on two hospitals, 48 educational centers and three churches. A landslide was also reported on the Chitré-Las Minas road and one community cut off, with no fatalities notified. Veraguas counts 18 residences affected and one person rescued with minor injuries, in addition to damage to eight health centers, 35 schools, three churches and three government buildings. The impacts reach three roads and three bridges, while Arena, Cacao and Quebro remain cut off due to collapses in the access roads. The Institute of Geosciences of the University of Panama updated the magnitude of the October 9 earthquake to 7.5, while the United States Geological Survey estimated it at 7.7, after reviewing the records of the seismic movement. EFE/ Bienvenido Velasco In this province, patient care also continued outside hospital facilities during the night, due to the need to maintain preventive measures because of the aftershocks. Health services also faced difficulties stemming from infrastructure damage and interruptions of basic services, while emergency teams continued the evaluations. In Coclé, the second report identifies 50 homes affected, two hotels with considerable damage and 17 people injured, in addition to two hospitals, two schools, two churches and four government buildings compromised. The authorities also reported an affected pedestrian bridge in Penonomé and enabled a shelter for eight families in facilities of the Ifarhu. The National Civil Protection System expanded the tally of injured people and affected structures, without reporting deaths or missing persons as of the issuance of its second official statement. EFE/ Bienvenido Velasco Chiriquí presents 15 residences with partial impacts and one with total damage, along with a health center, 20 schools, three churches and a compromised road section. The report includes the collapse of a water tank and a fissure in a water treatment plant, which adds basic services to the concerns. In Colón, damage was reported to homes, eight large buildings, the San Juan Hospital and the municipal market, in addition to a road and a bridge in Miguel de la Borda. Panamá Oeste registered three homes affected, two minors injured, two compromised health centers and partial damage to a government building. In the capital, reports remain of minor impacts on four condominium properties, businesses and residences in the Las Perlas archipelago. The authorities also carried out preventive evacuations of health facilities and maintain surveillance on the conditions of the buildings and the behavior of the sea. The main earthquake, registered at 12:56 p.m., was updated to magnitude 7.5 by the Institute of Geosciences, while the United States Geological Survey placed it at 7.7. The continuation of the aftershocks keeps evaluation and assistance efforts ongoing, with communities cut off and families that still fear returning to their homes. As of the last official tally cited, the authorities had not reported deaths or missing persons. However, the magnitude of the damage and the difficulties in accessing some communities keep the evaluation process open, while emergency agencies work to determine the definitive scope of the earthquake.