Panama earthquake damages hundreds of schools and cuts off communities

Attachments • Download Report (PDF | 390.83 KB) KEY POINTS • The University of Panama’s Institute of Geosciences (IGC-UP) has revised the magnitude of the 9 October earthquake to 7.6. The epicentre was 39 km north-west of Tonosí, at a depth of 4 km. The institute has since recorded more than 200 earthquakes, five of them magnitude 6.0 or above. • As of 6:30 p.m. on 10 October, the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) reported more than 820 damaged homes, 27 people with minor injuries and 29 affected health facilities across ten provinces and two Indigenous territories. The Ministry of Education (MEDUCA) reports 419 affected schools. No one has been reported missing. • Some 255 people are staying in two shelters in Mariato (Veraguas) and 12 in one in Penonomé (Coclé), and two more shelters are open in Boca de Quema (Los Santos). Authorities evacuated about 300 people from Isla de Cañas. • Tonosí has no water or electricity. The Pedasí–Tonosí road remains closed and the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) has shut the bridge over the Oria River, so only light vehicles can reach the town, via Macaracas and Llano de Piedra. Six communities in Los Santos and Herrera are still cut off. • MEDUCA has cancelled classes at all public and private schools on Monday 12 October. SINAPROC has called off the third national emergency drill, and a rain warning is in effect until 1:00 p.m. that day. Disclaimer UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.