Panama resumes classes at 327 schools following earthquake

Following the earthquake on October 9, Panama is beginning to normalize activities in affected regions. The Ministry of Education (Meduca) announced that 327 official educational centers across 10 regions will resume classes on Monday, October 26. These regions include Bocas del Toro, Panama East, Panama North, Panama West, Panama Central, Darién, Chiriquí, San Miguelito, Colón, and the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca.

In terms of housing recovery, the government has delivered the first reconstructed home in the community of Quebrada Grande, Veraguas, to the Sánchez Guerra family. The Minister of Housing and Territorial Planning, Jaime Jované, reported that more than 60 homes are currently under construction across the four hardest-hit provinces, while another 75 homes are undergoing demolition or debris removal to prepare for new builds.

To assist in recovery efforts, the Panamanian Red Cross is utilizing geospatial information platforms, including drones and 360-degree image mapping, to centralize data and coordinate humanitarian assistance.