Panama; 38,000 People Need Humanitarian Assistance After Panama Earthquake ; Fuel Prices to Rise in Panama ; Panama Canal Increases Daily Transits to 33.

Friday, October 16, 2026. Panama Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Readers, This week, we are setting aside our usual journey through international affairs to turn our attention to a country that is particularly close to our hearts: Panama, our home The powerful earthquake that struck Panama on October 9, followed by numerous aftershocks, reminded us how quickly life can change. Within moments, families were separated, businesses evacuated, communities disrupted, and thousands of people found themselves facing uncertainty. For many, the experience did not end when the ground stopped shaking. The emotional impact, concerns about structural safety, and continuing reports of seismic activity have left understandable anxiety throughout the country. Yet, amid the uncertainty, we have also witnessed something remarkable: the determination of the Panamanian people to look after one another. Our emergency responders, police officers, firefighters, medical professionals, civil protection personnel, and countless volunteers have demonstrated the importance of service when it matters most. Neighbors have checked on neighbors, families have come together, and communities have extended helping hands to those facing hardship. Their efforts deserve our recognition, gratitude, and continued support. Unfortunately, these difficult moments have also been accompanied by misinformation. Unverified reports of fatalities, missing persons, additional earthquakes, and impending disasters have circulated rapidly through social media and messaging platforms. At BM Investigations, where our profession is built upon the verification of facts, we believe that sharing accurate information is itself an act of responsibility. Speculation can create unnecessary fear, while reliable information allows individuals, families, and organizations to make informed decisions. But Panama’s story this week is about more than an earthquake It is about our communities, our institutions, our economy, our preparedness, and the collective responsibility we share for the country’s well-being. It is about recognizing where improvements are needed, acknowledging those who have stepped forward, and understanding that the strength of a nation is measured not only by its ability to withstand adversity, but by how its people respond afterward. For this reason, this week’s newsletter will focus on Panama: the events shaping our country, the challenges confronting our communities, and the developments that deserve our attention We encourage everyone, wherever possible, to extend a helping hand. Whether through donations, volunteering, supporting affected families, assisting a neighbor, or simply sharing verified information, every meaningful contribution matters. Panama may be shaken, but it will not be brought down. On behalf of the entire BM Investigations family, we extend our solidarity to everyone affected by recent events, our sincere appreciation to those working tirelessly to protect our communities, and our commitment to continue contributing to a safer, better-informed, and more resilient Panama. May we emerge from these difficult days not merely relieved that the worst has passed, but more united, more prepared, and more committed to one another. With respect and solidarity, Brett Mikkelson Founder, B.M. Investigations, Inc. – Private Investigations in Panama TOP NEWS and TIDBITS: Hospitals in Earthquake-Affected Areas in Panama Embrace International Assistance The hospital in the small city of Chitré, which serves as the main referral center for the rural areas of Panama affected by the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake, has welcomed the international humanitarian assistance received this week, primarily to care for pregnant women and newborns. Medical staff are now working in air-conditioned tents, where they care for mothers who have recently given birth, holding their tiny babies in their arms or in incubators, after spending days providing care in makeshift tents under extreme heat and torrential rain. The main medical assistance they have received has come from the Government of Costa Rica, which provided emergency healthcare personnel from its Social Security system, as well as two maternal and neonatal care modules and air-conditioned tents. The aid arrived the previous night in trucks that honked their horns and flew the Costa Rican flag, according to what EFE witnessed. “Last night, we received two modular units for gynecology and obstetrics from the Government of Costa Rica. They are fully equipped with specialized personnel and equipment, with capacity for four adults and four newborns, which has been of great benefit. Yesterday, we already received the first baby,” Dr. Hilario Correa, regional director of the province of Herrera, one of the areas hardest hit by the strong tremor, told EFE on Thursday. One of these fully equipped modular units, containing specialized medical equipment, has been transferred to the public hospital in Las Tablas, which also serves as a referral center for the rural areas most affected by the earthquake, the official explained. From the hospital in Chitré, the doctor expressed his gratitude for the support received from the neighboring country, noting that due to the constant aftershocks—more than 500 since Friday—it is unsafe to keep pregnant women and babies inside the facilities in the event that a rapid evacuation becomes necessary. “It has been extremely useful because it was what was needed at this time while the hospital’s infrastructure is being repaired,” the doctor said. The hospital has not suffered major structural damage, but cracks still need to be repaired as a precaution. In addition to Costa Rican assistance, the U.S. Southern Command also installed large air-conditioned tents outside the hospital, as well as in remote areas, to provide patients with the best possible care. A specialized team also assessed the damage to the public medical center, according to Correa. No More Newborns in the Barber Bus During the first few days following the earthquake, Chitré Hospital accommodated three premature babies in a barber bus donated by a private individual, after strong aftershocks continued for the following 72 hours, making it impossible to safely access the hospital’s facilities. The newborns have now moved from the barber shop mirrors to the gynecology and obstetrics modular units provided by Costa Rica, as well as to a designated area of the public hospital. “The barber bus got us out of a difficult situation at the time because it was an air-conditioned space, and the newborns were the ones who initially needed to be in an appropriate area given the