The 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck Panama on Friday, October 9, has claimed its first confirmed fatality. Elena Barría, a 68-year-old elderly earthquake victim from Macaracas in Los Santos province, died in Panama City after being crushed by a collapsing wall in her home.
The quake hit at 12:56 p.m. while Barría was inside her residence. Her son Amado was also in the house when the upper wall gave way, burying her under debris. “It happened in seconds, the wall fell on her and she was left with only her head exposed,” he recounted [Translated from Spanish].
Rescue Efforts for the Elderly Earthquake Victim
Amado immediately began pulling rubble away from his mother, but the task proved difficult. Barría had a prior leg amputation due to diabetes complications, which limited her mobility. Neighbors rushed to assist, and together they managed to free her from the destroyed home.
After the rescue, Amado transported his mother by private vehicle to the Macaracas hospital. Staff there could not admit her, he said, because they were not receiving patients at that moment. He returned home with her and waited approximately one hour and 40 minutes for firefighters to arrive.
Rescuers provided a board to move Barría, as no ambulance equipped for injured patients was available. She was then transferred through several medical facilities, first to Las Tablas, then Chitré, and finally to Panama City.
Medical Complications and Hospital Transfer
Barría’s injuries were severe. Her son reported that a piece of ceiling material pierced her intestines, and she also sustained head trauma. The family maintained communication with medical staff during her hospitalization at Ciudad de la Salud in the capital.
She died from complications to those injuries. The family had celebrated her 51st wedding anniversary on Sunday, October 11, just two days after the earthquake, while she remained hospitalized.
Family Remembers a Life Centered on Home and Tradition
Before the disaster, Barría’s daily routine revolved around cooking, household tasks, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Her husband often traveled to a family farm, leaving her at home in Macaracas where Amado would stay with her. Granddaughters visited frequently, making the house a gathering point for multiple generations.
Amado described his mother as a woman deeply connected to the traditions of Los Santos, which she passed on to her children. The family includes three children and several grandchildren.
The earthquake caused widespread damage across the Azuero region, affecting homes, medical facilities, and infrastructure. Emergency declarations were issued as authorities assessed structural damage to clinics and other public buildings in the affected provinces.