Panama declared a state of emergency on Saturday after two powerful earthquakes shook the country. The 7.7‑ and 6.6‑magnitude quakes, which struck on Friday, produced more than 100 aftershocks, but officials reported no deaths.
The main shocks toppled buildings near the epicenter and forced evacuations across the nation. Seismologists logged aftershocks up to magnitude 5.8, 5.5 and 5.2. The earlier quake, felt in Colombia, centered about 10 km southwest of Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province at a depth of 10 km.
Damages were widespread, affecting homes, schools, hospitals, roads, hotels, churches and bridges. The Civil Protection agency said roughly 420 homes and the same number of public schools were damaged, along with seven hotels, 13 churches and nine bridges. The worst impacts were in Veraguas, Herrera, Cocle and Los Santos provinces. In La Villa de Los Santos, a colonial town 64 km from the epicenter, homes and a historic Catholic church collapsed, leaving residents on the streets.
Twenty‑seven injuries were reported, ranging from minor to moderate. Residents like Tony Jiménez, whose home partially collapsed, described the shaking as intense. While no missing persons were reported, some communities remained isolated due to landslides and road damage. The US Department of State dispatched a disaster‑response team and pledged $5 million for humanitarian aid, while the U.S. Southern Command delivered 2,000 pounds of food with two helicopters. Regional leaders, including presidents of Chile, Uruguay and Guatemala, offered support.
