Panama Bishops Call for Solidarity After Major Quake
Thirteen churches and about 900 homes damaged; parishes open doors and donation centers are set up.
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck southern Panama on October 9, 2026, injuring at least 27 people. Approximately 900 homes were damaged, and more than 400 buildings suffered harm — among them 13 churches. No deaths occurred. In the hours and days that followed, more than 200 aftershocks were reported across the affected zone. Civil authorities declared a national emergency to organize relief and secure damaged areas.
Panama's Catholic bishops released a pastoral message calling the nation to live the solidarity that defines its people. "We must show the solidarity that defines our people," they said, urging every parish to open its doors to those struck by the disaster. The bishops asked for listening, companionship, and concrete aid so that no family would face the aftermath alone.
Archdiocese Opens Donation Centers
The Archdiocese of Panama has opened collection centers where the faithful can deposit donations destined for the injured and displaced. Parishes have been instructed to receive those in need, offering not only material goods but the human and spiritual accompaniment the bishops described as essential in this emergency.
The Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM) expressed spiritual accompaniment to the Panamanian Church and people, uniting its prayer with that of the local bishops.
Thirteen churches are among the damaged buildings, a loss felt in the liturgical life of the communities they serve. With no deaths recorded, the scale of material destruction — hundreds of homes, public structures, and sacred sites — makes plain the work of recovery ahead. Under the national emergency, the Church's response continues through open parish doors, organized collections, and the solidarity the bishops have placed at the heart of Catholic witness in these days.