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Panama Declares State of Emergency After 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake and 200 Aftershocks
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Firstpost•12-10-2026, 07:03
Panama Declares State of Emergency After 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake and 200 Aftershocks
- •Panama declared a national state of emergency following a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck the central provinces.
- •Over 200 aftershocks have been recorded, though seismologists report they are gradually weakening in magnitude.
- •Emergency authorities confirmed no fatalities, but at least 27 people were injured and nearly 900 homes damaged.
- •President Jose Raul Mulino visited affected areas while the government allocated up to 100 million dollars in relief funds.
- •The United States pledged 5 million dollars in assistance, and nationwide classes were suspended on Monday.
Key Questions Answered
The emergency declaration allows the economy ministry to allocate up to $100 million in relief funds without breaching its 2026 fiscal deficit target of 3.5 percent of GDP.
The United States has pledged $5 million in assistance and dispatched a 20-member team to aid with rescue operations and infrastructure assessments.
The Panama Canal reported that its shipping operations were unaffected by the earthquake, although at least 14 bridges were damaged across Veraguas and Los Santos, and classes were suspended nationwide.
