Earthquake Assessments Identify 619 Affected Schools Across 15 Education Regions
PANAMA CITY, October 13, 2026 — Education authorities have reported that 619 schools across 15 education regions have been identified as affected after the October 9 earthquake and its aftershocks, underscoring why school reopening is being handled through individual safety assessments rather than a single nationwide timetable.
The number does not mean that every affected school has the same level of damage. Officials described a range that includes minor conditions, more serious structural concerns and a smaller group of schools with total collapse or severe damage.
Where the largest reported impacts are
According to the government update, Veraguas recorded 192 affected schools, followed by Herrera with 91, Chiriquí with 87, Los Santos with 35, Coclé with 32 and Bocas del Toro with 25. The figures are part of an active assessment process and may be revised as additional technical inspections are completed.
Authorities also reported 35 schools with total collapse or serious damage: 20 in Herrera, seven in Veraguas, five in Los Santos, two in Coclé and one in Chiriquí. These cases will require more than routine reopening checks.
Why detailed inspection matters
A building may appear usable from the outside while still needing technical review of walls, roofs, columns, utilities or evacuation routes. Schools also need safe access for buses, parents, teachers and students. In areas affected by road damage or landslides, the route to a campus can be as important as the campus itself.
For families, the useful question is not simply whether classes are scheduled, but whether the specific school has been assessed and officially cleared to operate. Education authorities have said safety must come before a return to routine activity.
Recovery will take more than reopening day
Even where classes resume, schools may need staged repairs, temporary use of cleared spaces or changes to schedules. The overall school-recovery effort will depend on engineering findings, material availability and coordination with local communities. Panama Now Online will follow confirmed MEDUCA updates as decisions are announced.
