Panama declares emergency after powerful earthquakes and hundreds of aftershocks
publishers 43articles 47first reported 9 Oct, 21:30 UTCdeveloping since 10 Oct · 9 editions
Panama declared a state of emergency after two powerful earthquakes struck Friday, damaging buildings and infrastructure across the country and prompting evacuations. Officials reported no deaths or missing people as of Saturday, while 27 people suffered minor to moderate injuries.
The earthquakes measured magnitude 7.7 and 6.6. The first was centered about 10 kilometers southwest of Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and was also felt in Colombia. Reuters reported that Panama subsequently experienced more than 200 aftershocks; other reporting cited aftershocks as strong as magnitudes 5.8, 5.5 and 5.2.
Damage was reported in all 10 provinces and two Indigenous territories, with Veraguas, Herrera, Coclé and Los Santos among the hardest-hit areas. Panama’s Civil Protection agency said about 420 homes and 420 public schools were damaged, along with seven hotels, at least 13 churches and nine bridges. Buildings, including a historic Catholic church, collapsed in La Villa de Los Santos.
Landslides and damaged roads left some communities cut off, while residents whose homes were unsafe spent the night outdoors. The U.S. State Department mobilized a disaster response team to assist local authorities with search-and-rescue expertise and aerial and ground assessments. Teams of first responders based in Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles County were also sent to join the response.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 1 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 55 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 43
- Source articles
- 47
- Given to the writer
- 8, 1 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 55 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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