Panama reports 27 injured in preliminary earthquake toll

PANAMA CITY, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Panama's National Civil Protection System reported 27 people injured in the earthquake that struck the country on Friday, according to its second bulletin issued Friday night.

This view shows the collapsed Penonome Governor's Office building after a 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the country, in Penonome, Panama, on October 9, 2026. (Photo: AFP)

The agency said no missing persons had been reported as of 8 p.m. local time on Friday (0100 GMT Saturday).

Cocle province reported 17 injured persons, Los Santos six, and Veraguas and Herrera one each. All sustained minor injuries. Two minors were also injured in Panama Oeste province.

The earthquake damaged homes, schools, hospitals, roads and bridges across the country, leaving some communities cut off by road.

According to the country's Education Ministry data cited in the bulletin, 188 schools nationwide were affected by the earthquake.