Panama Expands Earthquake Response as Mulino Details Nationwide Aid Operation
PANAMA CITY, October 13, 2026 — Panama’s earthquake response has moved into a broader recovery phase, with the government reporting continued humanitarian deliveries, technical inspections and efforts to restore essential services in the provinces most affected by the October 9 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks.
In a national address on Monday night, President José Raúl Mulino said the response involves security personnel, emergency teams, firefighters, agricultural-support workers and technical specialists. The government’s stated priority is to reach communities affected by damaged homes, blocked roads and disrupted services while inspections determine which buildings can safely return to use.
A response built around access and basic services
According to the Presidency, ten aircraft, ground vehicles, motorcycles and boats have been deployed to help reach isolated or difficult-to-access communities. The approach reflects the practical challenge of delivering water, food and essential supplies where landslides or damaged roads have limited normal transport routes.
The government also reported that more than 66,000 pounds of emergency supplies had been moved by air, while water deliveries continued to communities and hospitals. These figures remain part of an evolving operational update rather than a final recovery assessment.
Housing, health and transport remain linked priorities
Officials said engineers from the Technological University of Panama, SINAPROC teams and international specialists had assessed 1,744 homes, affecting 6,174 people in the initial count cited by the Presidency. Those assessments are guiding decisions on temporary shelter, repairs and longer-term reconstruction.
Health services are reopening only where professional inspections have cleared facilities for use. Where that has not happened, patients are being transferred or supported through temporary arrangements. At the same time, the Ministry of Public Works is addressing road damage, bridge concerns and landslides that affect both residents and relief logistics.
What residents should watch
Residents should rely on SINAPROC, local authorities and health-service notices for changes involving roads, schools, hospitals and assistance points. Conditions can change as new inspections are completed, especially in communities where access remains difficult.
Source: Presidency of Panama
