The 188 affected schools are spread across all of Panama following the magnitude 7.5 earthquake

A magnitude 7.5 earthquake with its epicenter near Tonosí caused damage to infrastructure in several Panamanian provinces. The National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) reported that a magnitude 7.5 earthquake, with its epicenter 39 kilometers northwest of Tonosí and at a depth of four kilometers, caused damage to homes, schools, hospitals, bridges and roads in several Panamanian provinces. The preliminary tally, compiled by the National Emergency Operations Center as of 8:00 p.m. on Friday, recorded no missing persons. The damage affected 188 schools nationwide, according to the Ministry of Education. Security and emergency teams continued with assessments, assistance to those affected, and monitoring of the impacted areas, including coastal areas due to sea level variations. In Veraguas, 18 residences with partial or total damage were counted, along with one person rescued with minor injuries. Eight health centers, 35 schools, three churches, three government buildings, three road sections and three bridges sustained damage, mainly in Mariato and Soná. The districts of Arena, Cacao and Quebro were left cut off after road collapses. The province also reported interruptions to electricity, drinking water and internet service. The Ministry of Education counted 188 schools affected across the entire national territory. Coclé recorded 50 homes affected, two hotels with considerable damage and 17 people with minor injuries. The earthquake also affected two hospitals, two schools, two churches, four government buildings and a pedestrian bridge in Penonomé. Eight families were relocated to a shelter set up at the headquarters of the Institute for Training and Utilization of Human Resources in Penonomé. The civil protection agency specified that this measure was adopted to assist those affected in the province. Los Santos reported 14 residences and five hotels with partial damage, as well as six people with minor injuries. Four hospitals, 22 schools, two churches, 18 government buildings, three road sections, four bridges, two fire stations and four National Police facilities suffered damage. Some 300 people were evacuated from Isla Cañas to the community of Cañas due to the rise in sea level. Five communities remained isolated due to damage to bridges and roads, as well as landslides. Herrera counted 30 homes with partial damage and two with total destruction, along with one injured person. The Nelson Collado and Cecilio Castillero hospitals sustained partial damage, while 48 schools, three churches and the road to Las Minas registered damage. AME4626. PENONOMÉ (PANAMA), 09/10/2026.- Lifeguards walk in front of a church affected by the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that shook southeastern Panama, at a depth of 10 kilometers, causing damage to several buildings and roads near the town of Tonosí, the epicenter of the quake, this Friday in Penonomé (Panama). EFE/ Bienvenido Velasco A landslide blocked the road between Chitré and Las Minas and left a community cut off. At the time of the count, the province reported no fatalities. In Chiriquí, 15 residences had partial damage and one was destroyed. Also affected were a health center, 20 schools, three churches and a section of road infrastructure, in addition to a water tank that collapsed and a water treatment plant that presented a crack. The province of Panama maintained reports of minor damage to the infrastructure of four residential buildings, businesses and homes in the Las Perlas archipelago. Hospitals and health centers were evacuated while monitoring of sea levels continued. In Colón, a single-family home, eight large houses, the San Juan Hospital and the Municipal Market registered damage. There was also damage to road infrastructure and a bridge in Miguel de la Borda, with no injuries. Panamá Oeste reported three homes affected, two minors injured, two health centers with partial damage and one government building impacted. SINAPROC asked the population to remain calm and follow official accounts; for emergencies, it enabled the number 520-4429.