Panamanian authorities monitor water quality after Remance landslide

The Panamanian Ministry of Health (Minsa) and the Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente) have launched monitoring and sanitation efforts following a landslide at the abandoned Remance mine in Veraguas. The landslide, triggered by an earthquake on October 9, has raised concerns regarding water contamination in several rural communities.

Minsa reported finding total and fecal coliforms in specific water samples, prompting corrective measures such as reinforcing chlorination processes and distributing chlorine tablets. Technical teams are monitoring multiple communities, including La Mina, La Cuesta, La Gorda, and others that rely on rural aqueducts and wells.

MiAmbiente has initiated a sanitation plan to address microbiological alterations and potential metal contamination in the soil. The first phase involves constructing individual sanitary services and septic tanks in the community of La Gorda to mitigate fecal coliform contamination. A second phase will focus on containment and remediation at the landslide site, with engineering assessments underway to define further operational actions.