Panama’s Ministry of Health (Minsa) confirmed the second earthquake death linked to the October 9 seismic event, after Regina Miranda, 60, succumbed to a severe head injury at Hospital Luis “Chicho” Fábrega in Santiago de Veraguas. The administrative worker had been in a coma since being injured during evacuation at the Rómulo Arrocha school.
Miranda’s death follows that of Elena Barría, who was laid to rest in Macaracas earlier this week. The two fatalities mark the human toll of a tremor that shook buildings and forced thousands to reassess emergency protocols across the country.
Second Earthquake Death Follows School Evacuation Injury
Minsa officials said Miranda was performing administrative duties when the earthquake struck. As staff evacuated the building, she tripped over a roadside ditch and fell, striking her head. The impact caused a severe traumatic brain injury requiring immediate neurosurgical intervention.
She was rushed to the regional hospital where specialists treated her for more than a week. Despite those efforts, she never regained consciousness. The ministry did not specify the exact time of death but expressed condolences to her family, coworkers, and the broader educational community in Veraguas.
“Minsa expresses its most sincere condolences to the family, friends, coworkers and loved ones of Mrs. Miranda. It also extends solidarity to the educational community and families affected by the consequences of this natural phenomenon” [Translated from Spanish]
Fallece segunda víctima del terremoto en Panamá. https://t.co/6cFyOaBaIB
— Foco (@focopanama) October 22, 2026
Witness Account Challenges Official Narrative
Militza Mendoza, a colleague who was present during the evacuation, offered a different version of events. She said no classes were held that day because educators had gathered for a meeting, leaving only administrative and teaching staff on site.
Mendoza described how the group exited to a clear area and knelt on a pedestrian crossing to pray as the ground shook. She said Miranda initially appeared fine after standing up, then suddenly remembered her elderly mother who lived alone and collapsed. Mendoza disputed reports that falling debris or water caused the injury.
“When it happened and she said ‘my mom,’ she collapsed. I want to be clear, no block fell from the school, as people are saying, nor was there any issue with water. We went out to an open area” [Translated from Spanish]
She also questioned the official account of the ditch, calling for greater responsibility in how authorities share information about the incident.
Regional Impact and Community Response
The earthquake that struck on Friday, October 9, rattled communities across central Panama. In Macaracas, residents held funeral services for Elena Barría, the first confirmed fatality. Schools, homes, and public buildings underwent structural assessments in the days following the tremor.
Health officials continue monitoring patients who sustained injuries during the quake. Local emergency coordinators have urged residents to review evacuation routes and identify safe zones in workplaces and schools. The Ministry of Education has not announced whether additional safety reviews will be conducted at the Rómulo Arrocha campus where Miranda worked.
The deaths highlight the secondary dangers of seismic events, particularly for older adults and those with mobility challenges during rapid evacuations. Panama’s emergency management agency maintains that earthquake preparedness drills remain essential for schools and public institutions nationwide.