{"id":17894,"date":"2026-10-13T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=17894"},"modified":"2026-10-13T08:00:58","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T13:00:58","slug":"port-operations-halt-in-4-panama-provinces-following-strong-earthquake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/business-economy\/port-operations-halt-in-4-panama-provinces-following-strong-earthquake\/","title":{"rendered":"Port Operations Halt in 4 Panama Provinces Following Strong Earthquake"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Panama’s Maritime Authority (AMP) has ordered preventive closures of multiple state ports and administrative offices across Bocas del Toro, Veraguas, Chiriqu\u00ed, and the Azuero region<\/a> following structural damage<\/a> from Friday’s earthquake<\/a>. The Panama port closures<\/a> took effect October 12 as technical teams assess infrastructure integrity and prioritize staff safety, officials confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jonathan Tangarini, head of the AMP’s Port Operations Department, reported that preliminary inspections revealed cracked walls, damage to docks and pilings, and collapsed ceilings and furniture. The agency is now building a contingency plan to count available personnel and gradually restore sailing authorizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Admirante
Admirante Port Chiquita Land Company. By Bocas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Affected Ports and Administrative Offices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Veraguas province, Puerto Vidal and Puerto Mutis remain closed, along with public-facing administrative offices. Bocas del Toro saw operations suspended at Puerto Almirante and its regional headquarters shuttered. State port facilities and institutional offices across Cocl\u00e9, Herrera, and Los Santos provinces are also under preventive closure, while Chiriqu\u00ed’s administrative office in Remedios has temporarily halted public services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the restrictions, essential logistics continue at three terminals. Almirante, Mutis, and Pedregal will process departures exclusively to maintain critical supply chains. The rest of the country’s ports are operating normally, with no vessel damage reported so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

La Autoridad Mar\u00edtima de Panam\u00e1 (@AMP_Panama) inform\u00f3 que varios puertos estatales permanecer\u00e1n cerrados hasta nuevo aviso, mientras se realizan evaluaciones t\u00e9cnicas para verificar las condiciones estructurales de las instalaciones tras el sismo del 9 de octubre.\n\nLa medida incluye puertos de Veraguas, Bocas del Toro, Cocl\u00e9, Herrera y Los Santos. Tambi\u00e9n se mantiene suspendida temporalmente la atenci\u00f3n al p\u00fablico en oficinas administrativas de estas provincias, as\u00ed como en Remedios, Chiriqu\u00ed, y Almirante, Bocas del Toro.\n\nLa AMP indic\u00f3 que en los puertos de Almirante, Mutis y Pedregal continuar\u00e1 la atenci\u00f3n de los zarpes.\n\nLa instituci\u00f3n exhorta a los usuarios y operadores mar\u00edtimos a mantenerse informados mediante sus canales oficiales.\n\n#RPCRadio<\/p>— Rpc Radio (@rpc_radio) October 12, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>\n