‘It was a terrible thing’: Panama declares state of emergency as quake aftershocks rattle communities
Panama has declared a state of emergency following two powerful earthquakes and over 100 aftershocks that damaged buildings and infrastructure across the country. While no deaths were reported, dozens of injuries occurred.
Why it matters
The declaration of a state of emergency underscores the severity of the seismic activity and the need for coordinated national recovery efforts in Central America.
The damaged San Atanasio church in La Villa de Los Santos, Panama, on Saturday. The damaged San Atanasio church in La Villa de Los Santos, Panama, on Saturday. Panama ‘It was a terrible thing’: Panama declares state of emergency as quake aftershocks rattle communities More than 100 aftershocks as high as magnitude-5.8 recorded after two quakes toppled buildings and prompted evacuations
Prefer the Guardian on Google Panama’s government has declared a state of emergency on Saturday as the aftershocks of two powerful earthquakes that roiled the country shook communities for hours.
Officials did not attribute any deaths to Friday’s 7.7- and 6.6-magnitude earthquakes, but reported damages in all 10 of Panama’s provinces and two Indigenous territories.
The earthquakes toppled buildings near the epicentre and prompted evacuations across the Central American country. Seismologists recorded more than 100 aftershocks, including ones measuring magnitude 5.8, 5.5 and 5.2.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in