Red Cross Society of Panama launches emergency response after 7.2‑magnitude quake

On Friday, October 9, 2026, a 7.2‑magnitude earthquake struck Panama’s Pacific coast. Within hours, the Red Cross Society of Panama activated its emergency network, sending staff and volunteers to provide first‑aid treatment and psychosocial counselling. The organization also began rapid needs assessments to gather information on damage and to identify priority gaps. These activities are intended to complement the work of local authorities and other first responders, ensuring that the Red Cross can align its assistance with the broader emergency response.

In Penonomé, volunteers set up a local Red Cross aid point where they distributed drinking water and erected temporary shelters for displaced families. Teams in Chitré, La Villa, Las Tablas and Pedasí carried out door‑to‑door checks, confirming evacuation needs and helping residents move to safer locations. On the Caribbean side, crews in Changuinola and Almirante transported injured people to medical facilities and offered emotional‑support sessions for those experiencing distress. In Barú, Red Cross personnel reinforced hospital care for patients requiring urgent attention.

Damage‑assessment missions continue in Aguadulce and other districts, gathering data that will guide the scale of any further response. Meanwhile, Red Cross teams in Colón, David, Arraiján and parts of Panamá Province remain on standby, participating in coordination meetings and preparing resources for rapid deployment as security conditions allow. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has made its global response mechanisms available, ready to activate additional assistance once the National Society finalises its priority list based on the assessments.