Ten Days After Quake, Some 400 Isla Cañas Residents Still in Mainland Shelters, Allowed Back Only by Day
Isla Cañas in Panama's Los Santos province was badly damaged in the strong earthquake of October 9. According to Panama Expat Times on October 18, ten days after the quake the island of about 600 residents is still unfit for overnight stays: roughly 400 people are living in temporary shelters on the mainland, while others are staying with relatives.
The report said all residents were ferried off the island within 30 minutes of the tremor. Underground water lines ruptured, electrical cables were dragged by currents and high tides, aftershocks continue, and low-lying areas near the dock and beach have flooded. Residents may return only between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to feed animals and check on their homes, and must leave at night.
Daniel Pérez, a resident and tourism promoter on the island, confirmed that no one remains overnight and that no timeline has been set for restoring basic services.
Orbis Weather's weekly earthquake report of October 18 said Panamanian authorities had confirmed one death from the quake, damage to about 1,952 homes and more than 800 recorded aftershocks. Shelters are still being built, and a permanent return depends on water, power and structural safety assessments.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：Isla Cañas 海岸（资料图）。来源：Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 4.0 / Photo: The Isla Cañas coastline (file photo). Source: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
