The Young Panama Woman Injured by a Falling Wall During the Earthquake, Awakens.

This young woman (21-22 years old) suffered severe injuries during the earthquake and was transported by helicopter from Las Tablas to Panama City for medical care, where she was intubated and had surgery for head and abdominal trauma.  It has been confirmed that she has woken up and is breathing on her own, although she remains in the ICU.  She was protecting her disabled grandmother —who unfortunately suffered a fractured femur during the collapse of the house— when the structure gave way. 

To date there has been one fatality reported in Macaracas, Los Santos province. A woman, 68 years old, suffered serious injuries when a wall of her house collapsed and fell on her.  According to the most recent report released by the IGC-UP, Panama had accumulated 530 aftershocks since the main earthquake this number may be updated as data on minor earthquakes are reviewed.  Although the total number of aftershocks continues to rise, the daily frequency of events has decreased since the first earthquake.   Aftershocks are part of the fault’s readjustment process after the main earthquake and that they can last for days, weeks or even months, although with less frequency and intensity.

The earthquake has brought to light another side of Panama. On an international level, far from those tall towers of shiny glass and the boastful GDP of 90 billion, there is a vulnerable and often forgotten population, with communities living far more humbly.