Panama is receiving swift U.S. assistance after two strong earthquakes — magnitudes 7.7 and 6.6 — struck the central provinces of Herrera, Veraguas and Los Santos. U.S. Ambassador to Panama Kevin Marino Cabrera said the Trump administration has authorized a $5 million humanitarian aid package to help deliver food, medical supplies and logistics support.
U.S. military assets deployed for relief
According to Ambassador Cabrera, the United States leveraged assets from SOUTHCOM’s security cooperation mission, including a Chinook helicopter, to move critical supplies from Panama City to the hardest‑hit areas. Crews were seen boxing up pallets of aid and loading them onto the aircraft, ensuring that remote communities receive assistance quickly.
Focus on American citizens
The embassy has been in contact with roughly 90,000 U.S. nationals living in Panama. Officials have sent messages to those registered with the embassy and urged anyone still in the country to reach out for help. No American fatalities have been reported.
Local impact and response
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino confirmed that, while there have been injuries — including a person struck by debris in Penonomé and damage to the historic San Atanasio church — there have been no confirmed deaths as of Friday evening. He called for calm and praised the rapid response of regional partners.
Seismologists recorded more than 45 aftershocks, some measuring up to magnitude 5.8. Damage was concentrated in the central provinces, with reports of cracked roads, fissures and a partial collapse of the cathedral in Penonomé. Tocumen International Airport, one of the busiest in the region, briefly halted operations but resumed flights later Friday.
Regional solidarity
Leaders from neighboring countries expressed solidarity. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, Costa Rican President Laura Fernández Delgado, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa and Peru’s government all offered assistance. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is “rapidly mobilizing resources and personnel to assist” at Panama’s request.
The Panama Canal Authority reported that canal operations continue normally, with safety inspections underway to ensure no damage to this critical global trade route.
Why Panama fared better than recent quakes
Experts noted that Panama’s strict building codes, especially for high‑rise structures in the capital, likely limited casualties compared with recent disasters in Venezuela and Colombia, where thousands perished.
Overall, the coordinated effort between the Trump administration, U.S. military partners and Panamanian authorities illustrates a strong commitment to helping a close friend and partner in a time of need.
Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.
