Earthquake in Panama leaves about 2,130 people affected, 426 homes damaged, and nine bridges damaged

Housing Minister Jaime Jované reported that the preliminary census identifies some 2,130 people affected by damage in 426 residences. CourtesySome 2,130 people were affected by the damage recorded in 426 homes following the earthquake that shook Panama on Friday, October 9, while nine bridges show damage in the areas hardest hit by the seismic movement. The figures are part of the preliminary assessment presented this Saturday by the Government, which continues infrastructure evaluations and assistance operations for the population. The Minister of Housing and Land Use Planning, Jaime Jované, explained that the 426 homes surveyed show damage of varying severity, from minor effects to structures that may require complete reconstruction. The estimate of 2,130 people affected corresponds to the families included in that registry, which could still increase as technical teams reach other communities. The provinces of Herrera, Los Santos, and Coclé concentrate the greatest housing damage, according to the Ministry of Housing, which reinforced its regional offices with social workers, engineers, and specialized personnel. The inspections seek to determine which buildings can be reoccupied and which will need to be repaired or replaced with new construction. The Government of Panama declared a state of emergency after the earthquake and authorized an amount of up to $100 million to assist affected families, repair infrastructure, and respond to needs arising from the disaster. Video captureJované indicated that homes with minor damage must receive a safety certification, in coordination with the National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc), before their occupants can return. He also asked affected families to approach the ministry's regional offices to have their cases incorporated into the national census. The road infrastructure situation represents another of the main challenges. The Minister of Public Works, José Luis Andrade, reported that nine bridges show damage in the affected sectors of the Azuero peninsula, including the one located over the Torio River, whose structure shows more significant damage. The Ministry of Public Works is working to restore circulation toward Torio, Quebro, Arenas, and Tonosí, initially through crossings that allow light vehicle traffic. Andrade explained that numerous landslides have also been recorded that hinder connectivity, so machinery and specialized equipment are participating in the removal of materials and the rehabilitation of roads. The official warned that the identification of all damage has not yet been completed, so new damage could be added to the assessment. The priority is to guarantee access to communities that remain with communication difficulties and facilitate the transport of food, medicine, and emergency personnel. Regarding resources, the Government reiterated that the declaration of a state of emergency includes up to $100 million to address the consequences of the earthquake. The Minister of Economy and Finance, Felipe Chapman, assured that Panama has the financial capacity to respond to both material damage and the immediate needs of affected families. Authorities are maintaining inspections of homes, bridges, hospitals, and educational centers to determine safety conditions and reconstruction needs. (Courtesy: Telemundo). Chapman clarified that it has not yet been determined how much money will need to be used, because the ministries continue to compile damage inventories. Each institution must submit its requests to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, accompanied by documentation justifying the interventions and the resources required. The Economy chief also confirmed that international financial organizations and foreign governments have offered assistance. Among them he mentioned the Inter-American Development Bank, CAF, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, and the Government of the United States, in addition to finance ministers from other Latin American countries. According to Chapman, the alternatives include non-reimbursable donations and loans on favorable financial terms, which would only be used if necessary. He explained that the declaration of emergency constitutes a requirement to access certain international assistance mechanisms, while the actual cost of recovery is being established. The minister assured that the country's economic activity will continue functioning despite the damage caused by the earthquake. He also indicated that the institutions responsible for health, education, housing, and public works must complete their evaluations to establish the budgetary needs of each sector. In the educational sphere, Minister Ventura Vega reported that 419 schools show damage and that the Government is evaluating whether classes can resume on Monday, October 12. The decision could be made at the national level or by region, depending on the results of the inspections and the safety conditions of the schools. Herrera, Los Santos, and Coclé are the provinces with the most damage caused by the October 9 earthquake. REUTERS/Enea LebrunVega recalled that classes and administrative activities were suspended immediately after the earthquake, as a protective measure for students and staff. The Ministry of Education will announce its decision between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, while it continues gathering information through the Emergency Operations Center. The Minister of Public Security, Frank Ábrego, detailed that eight helicopters and four aircraft were made available for emergency operations to transport specialized personnel and humanitarian aid. He also reported that 15 paramedics and emergency medical technicians reinforced the hospitals of Penonomé and Aguadulce.Ábrego noted that 400 units of the National Border Service were mobilized to Penonomé, with specialized equipment to support recovery and security efforts. In parallel, National Police officers were deployed to Tonosí and Las Tablas, while aeronaval units are working in Mariato and Arenas de Quebro. International cooperation also began to materialize through two U.S. aircraft destined to transport humanitarian aid to the affected regions. The security deployment also includes preventive surveillance to prevent people from taking advantage of the emergency to commit crimes, according to the minister. In the tourism sector, the administrator of the Panama Tourism Authority, Gloria de León, reported that the main damage is concentrated in rural areas of the interior. In the capital, the most significant impact was related to disruptions in air operations at Tocumen, due to the diversion of flights to other airports in the region. More than 150 aftershocks have been recorded following the 7.5 magnitude quake of October 9 in Panama credit SGCThe official explained that these interruptions caused congestion and rescheduling, especially in Copa Airlines operations. The Tourism Authority and PROMTUR are working with the airlines and the hotel sector to facilitate lodging and assistance for passengers affected by changes to their itineraries. De León indicated that no structural damage has been reported in the main hotels of Panama City. However, there are preliminary reports of damage at the Dos Continentes hotel in Coclé; the Mykonos hotel in Santiago; and Playa Venao and El Sitio in Pedasí, establishments that will have to undergo evaluations. The Tourism Authority is also maintaining communication with organizers of congresses, conventions, and large events, to verify the conditions of the facilities and determine whether they can continue their activities. In parallel, PROMTUR is working to inform airlines, operators, and international markets about the country's situation. Regarding people who lost their homes, authorities announced efforts to enable open sports facilities as temporary shelters. To this end, the collaboration of Pandeportes will be requested and donations of tents will be accepted, with the purpose of providing shelter spaces for affected families. The Government also asked that people not return to homes or apartments with possible structural damage until an inspection confirms their safety. The Fire Department reported that it deployed 20 work teams with technical personnel and volunteers to evaluate hospitals, residences, and high-rise buildings. The Azuero peninsula concentrates the greatest damage to road infrastructure. Technical teams are working on road rehabilitation and structural evaluation. REUTERS/Enea LebrunThe inspections include hospital facilities where the constant aftershocks forced preventive evacuations. Sinaproc explained that the Emergency Operations Center itself had to be evacuated 14 times during the day on Friday, while its staff continued coordinating the national response. Authorities also addressed the mobility difficulties recorded in Panama City. Andrade clarified that the inspections found no reason to close the Bridge of the Americas and Centenario bridges, and attributed part of the congestion to false information spread on social media about alleged damage to those structures. The minister maintained that vehicular traffic began to normalize during Friday afternoon and that by 7:00 p.m. traffic had recovered its usual conditions. The shutdown of the Metro and the simultaneous departure of workers also contributed to the congestion of the main roads. The Ministry of Public Works said that this Saturday, October 10, repair work was already carried out to facilitate access to communities affected by the 7.5 magnitude quake. Taken from InstagramAs for the drinking water supply, the Government reported that most of the water treatment plants had resumed operations. The Chilibre facility was operating at 100%, while the Roberto Reyna and Rufina plants, in Herrera, showed no significant damage. Isolated problems related to the electricity supply and minor damage at other facilities persisted. The conference also addressed the organization of donations for affected families. Chapman indicated that the Ministry of Economy and Finance will publicize the mechanisms and bank accounts enabled to receive contributions, including electronic ones, once the official procedures are established to channel those resources. For its part, Sinaproc noted that the decision on the drill scheduled for Monday will be officially communicated by the Risk Management Cabinet. Authorities insisted that the population must stay attentive to institutional channels, especially given the circulation of rumors and unverified information. As the damage assessment continues, the Government maintains active coordination among ministries, security agencies, and emergency teams to assist affected communities. The tally of homes, bridges, schools, and public establishments will continue to be updated as inspections advance and the cost of reconstruction is determined. As part of the humanitarian assistance efforts, the Government enabled Omar Park, located in Panama City, as a collection center to receive donations destined for families affected by the earthquake. In the rest of the country, the governor's offices of each province will function as reception points, where citizens can deliver food, water, basic necessities, and other supplies that will be distributed among the communities affected by the seismic event.