Author: Sebastian Pieper

The Panamanian government has blocked public flight tracking for its official presidential aircraft, a move that leaves citizens unable to verify where the Legacy 600 jet travels or who uses it. The presidential aircraft flies in secrecy after authorities requested that flight monitoring platforms remove the plane’s data from public view, according to aviation tracking sites. The aircraft, bearing registration HP-1A, now shows a notice on flightaware.com indicating that public tracking is unavailable “at the request of its owner or operator.” The block took effect last month while President José Raúl Mulino was on an official tour of Asia. No…

A solidarity caravan Panama will roll through the Azuero region on November 10, replacing the customary parades for the 205th anniversary of the First Cry of Independence. The decision follows the October 9 earthquake that damaged communities across the peninsula, prompting civic groups to redirect commemorative events toward relief efforts. Organizers confirmed the caravan will depart from Heliodoro Patiño Park in Panama City at 4:00 a.m., gathering additional groups along the route before heading west toward the affected zones. The convoy will stop in San Miguelito, meet the Chorrera civic committee, and then proceed through Capira before the final push…

A month after the magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Panama’s Azuero Peninsula on October 9, scientists have documented a sharp aftershock activity decrease alongside the mapping of more than 12,000 earthquake-triggered landslides. The University of Panama’s Geosciences Institute reported 1,483 located aftershocks and 12,251 identified landslides in its 18th update on the seismic sequence. Daily aftershock frequency has fallen from an average of 102 events during the first week to just 21 in the most recent week, a reduction of nearly 80 percent. In the final 24 hours of the reporting period, only 25 aftershocks were located, two of which registered…

Residents of the Omar Torrijos neighborhood in Soná, Veraguas have now spent a full month living in makeshift tents at the local fairgrounds, with no confirmed timeline for permanent post-earthquake housing solutions. The families were displaced after a seismic event rendered their homes structurally unsafe, forcing them into temporary shelters where they continue to sleep, cook, and carry out daily routines in shared spaces. The shelters, erected on the grounds of the Veraguas Fair in Soná, currently house children, adults, and elderly residents. Each family unit has carved out a small area with chairs, water containers, food supplies, and basic…

More than 4,000 people visited Panama’s national parks, forest reserves, and wildlife refuges during the November patriotic celebrations, cementing the country’s growing reputation for protected areas tourism. The Ministry of Environment deployed personnel across 66 protected sites between November 2 and 6, combining visitor services with active conservation enforcement. The turnout reflects a broader shift toward nature-based recreation among both Panamanian citizens and international travelers, officials said. Park rangers maintained continuous patrols while managing the influx of hikers, wildlife observers, and families seeking outdoor activities during the holiday period. Protected Areas Tourism Surges at Volcán Barú Volcán Barú National Park…

Panama’s Ministry of Health has confirmed a Colon dengue outbreak in the district of Santa Isabel, where two communities now account for 44 active cases and health teams have launched emergency containment operations. The outbreak spans Miramar and Nombre de Dios, with infections striking residents across all age groups. Officials confirmed the dual outbreak this week after surveillance data revealed a sharp spike in cases. Miramar carries the heaviest burden with 37 confirmed infections, while Nombre de Dios has reported seven. Children under five and elderly residents are among those affected, signaling widespread community transmission rather than isolated incidents. Colon…

More than 1,000 tons of garbage have been pulled from Panama City’s rivers and Pacific coastline between August and October 2026, according to a quarterly report from the Mayor’s Office. The Panama coastal cleanup effort, executed through the Río Verde Consortium, targeted decades of accumulated debris across 15 kilometers of riverbanks and six hectares of recovered land. The initiative covered the Río Abajo and Matías Hernández river basins, along with the Pacific shoreline in Panama Bay. Crews organized four work fronts to collect, stockpile, and remove waste that officials say had been building up for years in these waterways. Scope…

Panama expects to receive approximately 45 containers of Christmas trees during the 2026 import season, a slight increase over 2025 volumes, according to the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA). The agency has already launched phytosanitary surveillance and inspection operations to block pests and diseases that could threaten domestic crop production. Importing companies have notified MIDA of plans to bring trees from Canada and the state of Oregon in the United States. The import window runs through mid-November, and officials said the final container count could shift as the season progresses. Christmas Trees Inspection Protocols at Ports of Entry For shipments…

Police in Panama City arrested an 18-year-old man convicted of murder and aggravated robbery on Monday, taking him into custody outside the Villas de San Miguel building in the Calidonia district. The suspect was wanted on a warrant issued October 6, 2026 by the Second Compliance Court of Panama’s First Judicial District. The conviction stems from a December 8, 2024 armed robbery at a mini-supermarket in Loma Cová, Arraiján district, where a security guard was shot and killed. National Police units made the arrest without incident, officials confirmed. Details of the Loma Cová Homicide and Robbery Court documents show the…

Panama City’s Cerro Ancón, a Panama sovereignty symbol and protected natural reserve, is receiving an average of 980 visitors daily during November’s patriotic celebrations, according to the Ministry of Environment. The influx of national and international tourists reflects the site’s dual identity as both a historical landmark and one of the capital’s most critical biodiversity refuges. The monumental flag crowning the hill has become a focal point for Fiestas Patrias gatherings, drawing crowds who ascend the 40.4-hectare reserve to experience a landscape where national identity and tropical forest converge within the metropolitan core. Torrijos-Carter Treaties and the Flag’s Historic Rise…