After the Earthquake: An Update from Cambutal

What happened, how our towns fared, and what it means for anyone thinking of building here.

On Friday, October 9, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the Azuero Peninsula. (The USGS measured it at 7.7.) It was centered inland, northwest of Tonosí, and it was shallow, which is why it was felt across Panama and as far away as Costa Rica and Colombia. Hundreds of aftershocks followed in the days after.

First, the most important news: no deaths were reported. Twenty-seven people were treated for injuries nationwide.

How our towns fared

Cambutal and Guánico came through without major damage. We had cracked plaster, items off shelves, and a few sleepless nights of aftershocks, but homes and businesses here are standing and open. The fault line went through a small part of Búcaro at the entrance of town, and then continued on to Isla Cañas. The majority of Búcaro was also undamaged.

Our neighbors weren’t all as lucky though. Tonosí, the closest town to the epicenter, was among the hardest hit, and communities across Los Santos, Herrera, Veraguas and Coclé saw damaged homes, schools and roads. Our hearts are with the families still rebuilding.

Why some buildings did better than others

After the quake, engineers from Panama’s Universidad Tecnológica (UTP) made the same point again and again: Panama already has a solid structural building code, the Reglamento Estructural Panameño (REP). The problem is that it isn’t always followed. Inland and in rural areas, many homes are still built by traditional, informal methods, and those buildings are the most vulnerable.

The practical lessons are simple:

• Building new: budget for the soil study and structural design from day one. They’re a small fraction of the cost of the house.

• Use a licensed engineer and architect, and get permits. Skipping the soil study or the structural design to save money is the most expensive shortcut you can take.

• Tie the structure together. Walls need reinforced columns and beams, not just stacked block.

• Anchor the roof. It should be bolted to the structure, not simply resting on it.

  
  

The silver lining: the region has Panama’s attention

The quake damaged several of the main roads into this part of the peninsula, including the routes from Tonosí to Las Tablas, Pedasí and Macaracas. The government responded by declaring a national emergency and setting aside up to $100 million for public works, roads and drinking water.

Recovery will take time, and nobody can promise exactly where or when the money will be spent. But southern Azuero has been asking for better roads and water systems for years, and this is the most attention the region’s infrastructure has had in a long time. UTP engineers are also reviewing the building code using lessons from this quake. The road to Búcaro, Guánico and Cambutal is open, with some slow stretches under repair.

The bottom line

Earthquakes are part of life in Central America. What this one showed is that well-built homes come through, and the difference comes down to decisions made before the first block is laid. If you’re thinking about buying or building here, I’m happy to walk you through what to look for and connect you with professionals who build it right.