The number of people officially classified as affected by Panama’s October 9 earthquake has risen to 11,460 as assessment teams reach more communities, according to the government’s latest preliminary report.
The updated figure, announced on October 13, is almost double the 6,174 reported a day earlier. It does not mean that all those residents lost their homes or were displaced.
Approximately 2,840 people remained in shelters, while authorities had evaluated 3,367 families. The government recorded damage to 1,250 homes, more than 600 public schools and 90 government buildings.
Twenty-seven people sustained light or moderate injuries. No deaths or missing people had been reported as of Tuesday evening.
The most heavily affected provinces remain Veraguas, Los Santos, Herrera, Coclé and Chiriquí, although damage has been documented across most of the country. Rural communities have been especially difficult to assess because landslides, damaged roads and compromised bridges interrupted access after the earthquake.
The changing totals also reflect the preliminary nature of the government’s reporting. Earlier releases used different measures, including residences inspected, homes affected and people living in assessed households. Those categories should not be treated as interchangeable.
Authorities said more than 121,000 pounds of emergency supplies had been transported by air. More than 331 tonnes of water had also been delivered to communities and hospitals.
The government has begun distributing construction materials and preparing repairs or replacements for damaged homes. Public schools will reopen progressively rather than nationwide, with each building requiring clearance before students return.
Separately, the Ministry of Economy and Finance confirmed that an emergency trust had been established through Banco Nacional de Panamá. The government may commit up to $100 million to the response, but officials stressed that the ceiling is not money already spent.
The latest estimate remains provisional. Additional changes are likely as structural inspections and household assessments continue in isolated areas.
Sources: Telemetro, MEF
