Tsunami alert triggers Panama earthquake response

The Tsunami alert that followed the recent major earthquake in Chile, has spurred Panama’s National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC).
The national emergency plan will be updated in time to launch evacuation drills by August of this year says SINAPROC director Arturo Alvarado. In July last year an emergency plan was promised “in two months,” but this time the promise is backed by cash.
Alvarado said the organization plans to perform a thorough earthquake resistance evaluation of buildings housing key public institutions, like the Presidency of the Republic, the National Assembly, provincial government buuildings, schools and hospitals.
Meetings are being held held with staff from the Technological University of Panama and engineering departments of the Ministries of Works and Housing and the Municipality of Panama.
To implement the plans, SINAPROC’s budget, will be raised from $2.2 million to $7 million.
The Assembly’s Budget Committee has already approved a shipment of equipment worth an estimated $2.8 million.. The second installment of $2 million is expected to follow within the next two months.
According to Alvarado, this increased budget will allow for the development of training, prevention, and response programs. The training, which will be carried out from Chiriquí to Darién, is expected to have a duration of two months, and evacuation drills are slated to last three days.
The budget increase includes funds for the recruitment of geologists and the purchase of of robotic equipment to help find people trapped under rubble.
Footnote: Panama is on a minor tectonic plate called The Panama Block. The plate is surrounded by four major plates. The north limit of the Block is an overlapping zone known as the Deformed Belt North which is active.
Panama was hit by a big earthquake in 1882 which caused severe damage to the French Canal works, and damaged buildings in Panama and Colon. There were further big shocks in 1904 and 1916 and in 1991 a 7.4 magnitude shock killed 25 and injured 400 in Bocos del Toron, and 1,700 homes were destroyed.