On Friday afternoon, October 9th, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck near the southern coast of Panama, with the epicenter only about 10-26 kilometers deep, classified as a very destructive shallow earthquake. President of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, officially declared a state of “major disaster” nationwide.
Media reports have indicated that the earthquake epicenter was near Pitaloza Arriba in the Herrera province of central Panama, with the disaster primarily affecting three central provinces: Herrera, Veraguas, and Los Santos.
The roads and land infrastructure near the epicenter have suffered extensive damage, with multiple residential and commercial buildings collapsing in the hardest-hit areas. The town of Tonosí in Los Santos province is now completely cut off from the outside world, with rescue teams attempting to access it via air routes.
As of now, several people have been injured due to the earthquake, including 15 students from a school in the province of Cocle with minor injuries, but there have been no reports of casualties or people missing.
Following the strong earthquake, the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Panama has recorded over 45 aftershocks. Due to the intense shaking of high-rise buildings, residents in the capital and central areas have gathered in outdoor squares out of fear of further aftershocks and are reluctant to return to their homes.
Currently, the Ministry of Education in Panama has announced the suspension of classes nationwide. The government has initiated a comprehensive mobilization and resource allocation to assist in the disaster relief efforts in frontline areas such as Penonome.
(End of translation)