Author: Manuel Antonio Espinosa

President José Raúl Mulino confirmed Wednesday that the traditional November 3 dianas at the Presidential Palace will not take place this year, making official the November celebrations canceled decision that follows the October 9 earthquake. The announcement came during a working tour of Chiriquí province, where the president addressed the national emergency still unfolding across four affected provinces. “There is nothing to celebrate,” Mulino said, referring to the widespread destruction left by the seismic event. The earthquake damaged homes, schools, churches, roads, and bridges, with the hardest hit areas concentrated in Herrera, Los Santos, Veraguas, and Coclé. November Celebrations Canceled…

Shelter Structures America donated four large tents to the relief campaign, a contribution organizers called significant progress toward housing multiple displaced families. Organizers are also awaiting a quotation from another tent manufacturer in Panama City. The focus on emergency shelter has intensified as assessments reveal the scope of displacement. Tarps purchased Tuesday offer immediate protection from rain while more permanent solutions are organized. A substantial portion of donated funds will likely be directed toward purchasing large tents and shelter equipment in the coming weeks, organizers said. Earthquake Infrastructure Damage Slows Aid Distribution The Oria River bridge closure represents the latest…

Panama’s Environment Ministry has extended the Isla Escudo closure through December 31, 2026, citing coral bleaching evidence and insufficient scientific data on Caribbean spiny lobster populations. The decision, published October 15 in the Official Digital Gazette, maintains conservation restrictions while carving out a narrow 30-day exception for artisanal fishing communities. The resolution affects the Paisaje Protegido Isla Escudo de Veraguas-Degó in Bocas del Toro province. Officials said the extension responds to visible coral bleaching documented during a September monitoring expedition and regional thermal stress indicators from NOAA Coral Reef Watch. Scientific Basis Behind the Isla Escudo Closure Extension A technical…

The 9 October earthquake that shook Panama’s central provinces has left an economic wound far deeper than cracked walls and broken roads. The disaster disrupted the central provinces economy, hitting agriculture, livestock, and artisanal production, and now forces a national debate over how to fund a recovery that some economists say could reach $500 million. The tremor struck on Friday 9 October, damaging homes, highways, hotels, and workshops across Veraguas, Coclé, and the Azuero Peninsula. Beyond the visible destruction, hundreds of families lost their means of income as small businesses, farms, and pottery kilns were knocked out of operation. Circulan…

The latest CEPAL trade forecast projects Panama’s goods exports will contract 14 percent by the end of 2026, placing the country among only five economies in Latin America and the Caribbean expected to post negative numbers this year. The projection, released Tuesday in the annual report on international trade perspectives, stands in stark contrast to the regional average of 20 percent growth. The collapse stems primarily from the shutdown of copper mining operations and the normalization of trade flows following unusually high prior-year records, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. First-half data already showed Panamanian…

The Ministry of Housing and Territorial Development (Miviot) launched debris removal operations in El Banco, a community in Pesé within Herrera province, marking the first physical step toward housing reconstruction Panama families urgently need after the October 9 earthquake destroyed their homes. Minister Jaime Jované confirmed construction will begin immediately once crews clear the rubble. Work is moving simultaneously across several affected provinces. Crews in Veraguas have already started five debris removal interventions and one construction process. Coclé saw another removal operation followed by the start of one home. Teams are also active in Chiriquí, the indigenous comarca region, and…

A 400,000-gallon storage tank at the Ingeniero Roberto Reyna potable water plant in Chitré, Herrera province, has been taken out of operation after seismic activity caused a fissure in the structure. The Institute of National Aqueducts and Sewers (Idaan) confirmed the damage on October 14, 2026, following a detailed technical inspection conducted alongside the Fire Department. The tank was emptied as a precautionary measure and will remain offline while repair actions are coordinated. Water supply continues through a temporary bypass connection that channels treated water directly into the distribution network, officials said. Emergency Response at the Potable Water Plant Idaan…

The United States Embassy in Panama has categorically rejected reports of a massive troop deployment Panama operation involving 600 American soldiers, stating the actual figure is far smaller and tied to a routine jungle training exercise. The denial came Tuesday after The New York Times reported that elements of the 10th Mountain Division were being sent to a Panamanian training center as part of an expanded counter-narcotics push in Latin America. Kevin Marino Cabrera, the US ambassador to Panama, said the embassy was not consulted before the report was published and described the characterization of the military movement as “categorically…

The Panama earthquake relief operation hit a critical obstacle Tuesday as authorities closed the Oria River bridge near Playa Venao, cutting off pedestrian access to isolated communities and making aid delivery roughly four times more difficult. Volunteers coordinating the response to the October 9 earthquake reported that the closure has forced them to seek alternative routes while families in Cañas, Playa Venao, and Tonosí remain without adequate shelter. Emergency generators worth $692.00 and large tarps costing $216.01 were purchased in Panama City on October 14 to support displaced residents. The supplies are expected to reach affected areas tonight or tomorrow,…

Scientists from the University of Panama’s Geosciences Institute are conducting field studies across the Azuero region to document earthquake ground changes following the recent seismic event, with preliminary estimates suggesting the fault rupture extends between 170 and 180 kilometers. The research teams are using drones and installing additional seismic stations to map surface deformations, landslides, and displacement patterns that will inform reconstruction planning. Arkín Tapia, head of the Seismic Network at the Geosciences Institute, confirmed that specialists have divided into two groups to accelerate assessments. One team operates drones to gather geological and morphodynamic data while the other installs new…