Geosciences of the University of Panama Proposes Investing up to $3 Million in a Seismic Alert System.

An investment of between 1.5 million and 3 million dollars is required to establish a national seismic early warning system in Panama, according to Néstor A. Luque, general director of the Institute of Geosciences of the University of Panama.

Luque presented this proposal during his speech as the official speaker at the events for the 123rd anniversary of Panama’s separation from Colombia, held on November 3rd, at the University of Panama.  According to Luque, this initiative must have permanent funding within the General State Budget and not depend on extraordinary allocations approved after an emergency.

This project aims to leverage Panama’s existing automated seismic detection systems and link them with digital networks including Google’s mobile infrastructure to deliver real-time earthquake alerts directly to citizens’ cell phones. The objective of this investment is to give residents at least 15 seconds of advance warning to take protective measures (such as drop, cover, and hold on) before severe shaking from an earthquake reaches their area.

Furthermore, Luque argued that investment in seismic monitoring and prevention should become a permanent public policy, rather than relying on extraordinary resources that after a disaster occurs.  The earthquake caused significant ground displacements in the fault system of the south of the country.  During the weeks following the earthquake, specialists from the Institute of Geosciences documented more than 1,150 seismic aftershocks.

The director of the institute highlighted that Panama has 65 seismic stations, although he acknowledged that not all of them operate at one hundred percent of their capacity, which demonstrates the need to strengthen the infrastructure and resources allocated to monitoring seismic activity.  He also noted that the low number of fatalities associated with the earthquake was not a product of chance, but of a combination of factors, including the depth of the movement, the distance, the characteristics of the geological faults, the conditions of the buildings and seismic monitoring.

In addition to establishing a national early warning system, Luque identified two other actions that he considers fundamental to improving the country’s preparedness for geological threats.  The second step involves organizing the territory based on scientific principles, using geological hazard maps to guide decisions about where and under what conditions schools, hospitals, housing, and new communities should be built.  The third proposal aims to train new generations of professionals in Earth sciences, encourage young people’s interest in scientific research, and strengthen the technical and operational capabilities of the Institute of Geosciences.