A magnitude-7.7 earthquake rattled central and southeastern Panama Oct. 9, toppling homes and buildings in a region of the country known for tourism. Operations at the Panama Canal, which were not near the earthquake’s epicenter, were not affected.
The country continued to experience hundreds of aftershocks in the days following the earthquake. No fatalities have been reported, but at least 27 people were injured and nearly 900 homes were damaged according to the Panamanian government, which declared a state of emergency in the days following the quake. This will allow the government to allocate up to $100 million in relief funds without seeking further legislative approvals.
The government reports that least 14 bridges were damaged in the provinces of Veraguas and Los Santos. The United States has pledged at least $5 million in assistance to Panama, and is sending a 20-person team to help with rescue efforts and infrastructure assessments, according to the office of U.S. Ambassador to Panama Kevin Marino Cabrera.
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino visited some of the affected areas in central and southern Panama over the weekend, and promised government assistance in rebuilding homes that were destroyed in the earthquake. He also said that experts would be sent out to evaluate hospitals and other medical facilities in the affected areas to ensure they were safe to occupy and continue to use.
Government minister Jose Ramon Icaza said that he was preparing a legislative package to fund the construction of hundreds of homes destroyed in the earthquake, citing a similar quake in 2003 in Puerto Ammuelles, after which more than 300 homes were built in short order.
Panamanian Minister of Education Ventura Vega said that schools and educational facilities in the central province of Herrera showed extensive signs of damage following the earthquake and would need to be repaired and rebuilt.
Looking for quick answers on construction and engineering topics?
Try Ask ENR, our new smart AI search tool.
Ask ENR →
Source: www.enr.com
