{"id":18155,"date":"2026-10-21T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=18155"},"modified":"2026-10-20T16:54:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T21:54:00","slug":"canas-isla-coastline-sinks-up-to-30-centimeters-following-recent-earthquake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/environment-wildlife\/canas-isla-coastline-sinks-up-to-30-centimeters-following-recent-earthquake\/","title":{"rendered":"Severe Damage: Isla Ca\u00f1as Splits in Two as Coastline Sinks Up to 30 Centimeters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Preliminary field measurements show that a magnitude 7.5 earthquake caused portions of Isla Ca\u00f1as<\/a> to sink between 15 and 30 centimeters, offering the first concrete picture of how the seismic event reshaped Panama’s earthquake geography impact along the Azuero Peninsula<\/a> and Veraguas coast<\/a>. The data comes from Isaac Guerra Ara\u00faz, a Panamanian doctoral fellow with the National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation<\/a> (Senacyt), who returned to Panama after the quake to document surface ruptures<\/a> and ground deformation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guerra Ara\u00faz conducted measurements in B\u00facaro, La Pitaloza, and Mariato over recent weeks, focusing on horizontal and vertical displacement along fault rupture zones. His work aims to reconcile direct field observations with existing seismic source models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Puerto
The researcher found that in B\u00facaro the ground shifted horizontally between 1 meter and 1.20 meters, with vertical displacement of approximately 1 meter. Puerto Isla Ca\u00f1as by Guerra Ara\u00faz.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fault Rupture and Coastal Subsidence Measurements on CIsla Ca\u00f1as<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The researcher found that in B\u00facaro the ground shifted horizontally between 1 meter and 1.20 meters, with vertical displacement of approximately 1 meter. The subsidence recorded at Isla Ca\u00f1as represents a separate but effect, likely tied to deformation of the seafloor that may have contributed to wave generation during the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senacyt said the findings will be published in an international scientific journal and in a public report accessible to the general population. The earthquake geography impact extends beyond the immediate coastline, with damage assessments also carried out in Son\u00e1, Aguadulce, Penonom\u00e9, and Atalaya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"isla
Before the October 9 earthquake, Isla Ca\u00f1as was a popular tourist destination. Isla Ca\u00f1as Los Santos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Isla Ca\u00f1as Quake Aftermath: Integrating Field Data With Seismic Models<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Guerra Ara\u00faz emphasized that understanding how faults behave requires combining what researchers observe on the ground with seismic models and damage records. He noted that the distribution of earthquake effects depends on this integration, which helps explain why some communities experienced more severe ground movement than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Our research does not end when the shaking stops. It continues in the field, collecting data that helps us understand these phenomena better and prepare for future earthquakes” [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The study incorporates additional data from Dr. Luis Pinz\u00f3n, a doctor in Seismic Engineering and Structural Dynamics and former Senacyt fellow, covering Aguadulce, Penonom\u00e9, and Atalaya. This broader dataset allows researchers to map how the earthquake’s effects radiated from the rupture zone into inland communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Una publicaci\u00f3n compartida por La Estrella de Panam\u00e1 (@laestrellaonline)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n