Na earthquake wey measure magnitude 7.6 hit Panama on 9 October around 12:56 p.m., according to Institute of Geosciences of the University of Panama, IGC-UP. United States Geological Survey put the magnitude at 7.7.
Epicentre dey for Veraguas, near border with Los Santos, 39 km north-west of Tonosí, at depth of 4 km.
By morning of 12 October, IGC-UP don record more than 350 aftershocks. Dem dey get weaker, but IGC-UP talk say dem fit continue for weeks, possibly close to one month. Last major earthquake on this fault system, magnitude 6.9, struck in 1913.
Soil type partly explain why Chitré and Penonomé suffer more damage pass areas wey closer to epicentre.
According to Government preliminary count as of 12 October, some 1,250 homes affected, mostly for Los Santos, Veraguas, Coclé and Herrera. Not all of dem go need rebuilding, and Ministry of Housing dey assess which ones need repairs.
Di earthquake also damage 16 bridges, churches and public buildings, and affect 29 health facilities and 619 schools. Twenty-seven people injure, and no reports of deaths or missing people.
Some 478,000 people live for areas wey feel very strong shaking or stronger, and around 41,000 live where moderate to heavy damage expected, according to Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, PAHO/WHO.
More than 800 people remain for shelters, mostly for Veraguas, Colón and Los Santos. Many others dey stay with relatives or friends or sleep outdoors because fear of aftershocks.
For Búcaro, Los Santos, residents don leave their homes, many of which destroyed, and dem dey stay for entrance to village. Rain don already disrupt care for tents outside Anita Moreno Hospital, and swollen rivers and landslides dey delay access to some communities.
