US Southern Command and American disaster response teams are working alongside Panamanian troops and authorities to deliver emergency relief to isolated communities. US Chinook helicopters have transported more than 54,000 cases of water, 50,000 cans of food and medical tents, while structural specialists from Virginia and Los Angeles County evaluate damaged hospitals, schools, nursing homes and water treatment facilities in provinces including Veraguas.
The earthquake and more than 200 aftershocks—including a reported magnitude 6.1 tremor near Rio Grande—injured at least 27 people, affected over 2,000 residents and damaged nearly 900 homes and 14 bridges, prompting the government to declare a national state of emergency. Operations at the Panama Canal have remained normal.