One month after a powerful earthquake struck central Panama, more than 2,700 people remain in 100 temporary shelters, with thousands of homes destroyed and many families facing months before they can return home, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in Panama City on November 11.

Source: IOM, Nov 11, 2026

7.5magnitude of the earthquake that struck the Azuero Peninsula on October 9
2,700+people still living in 100 temporary shelters one month on, the IOM said
4,600homes found completely destroyed after nearly 20,000 inspections by SINAPROC as of November 2
1,300replacement homes already under construction, out of 2,700 planned

The magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the Azuero Peninsula on October 9 and hit hardest in rural communities in Los Santos, Herrera and Veraguas. As of November 2, Panama's National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) had inspected nearly 20,000 homes, finding that 4,600 had been completely destroyed, the IOM said.

Reconstruction: 2,700 homes planned, first handovers targeted before year's end

The Government of Panama has announced plans to build 2,700 new homes for families who lost theirs, with additional housing expected as damage assessments continue. Around 1,300 homes are already under construction, with the final homes expected to be handed over by March 2027, the IOM said. Earlier Panamanian reporting put the wider toll at more than 55,000 people affected, three dead and 27 injured, according to SINAPROC figures cited by Panamá América on November 4, and said President José Raúl Mulino set a goal of delivering the first new homes before 2026 ends.

Source: KvIG Info, Nov 7, 2026

The same reporting said the Cabinet declared a national state of emergency on October 10 and authorised up to US$100 million (yaani 10,000 lakh US dollars, or 1,000 crore in Indian counting) for the response, while the Inter-American Development Bank said Panama can access up to US$300 million in contingent financing and will provide up to US$500,000 in non-reimbursable humanitarian funds.

IOM appeals for more help while families wait

IOM Chief of Mission in Panama Denisse Velázquez called for additional resources to help displaced families access safe shelter, repair damaged homes and recover while permanent housing is being built. The IOM, working with UN and civil society partners, said it has delivered 1,150 relief items, including mattresses, cots, tents, blankets and flashlights, to some of the hardest-hit communities.

Source: IOM via ReliefWeb, Nov 11, 2026

What happens next is a race against that calendar: how many of the 2,700 planned homes are actually handed over before the end of 2026, and how many families are still in shelters when the March 2027 deadline for the final homes arrives.