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Monday's nationwide evacuation drill is suspended

Update, 10 October: Sinaproc has suspended this drill until further notice after the 9 October earthquake (Eco TV).

Alarms were to go off on Monday morning in offices, schools and apartment towers as part of the drill. Panama had planned to hold its Third National Evacuation Drill on Monday 12 October 2026 at 10:00 a.m., in all 10 provinces and every corregimiento, the civil protection agency Sinaproc said at a press conference on Wednesday 7 October. This year's motto is "La resiliencia empieza en casa" (resilience starts at home).

The exercise was to be run by the Ministry of Government's disaster-risk cabinet, Sinaproc and the Fire Department (Bomberos), with security forces, public institutions, private companies, community groups and schools. Executive Decree 47 of 22 April 2024 made the second Monday of October Panama's National Drill Day (Sinaproc).

What Sinaproc had planned

  • At 10:00 a.m., alarms and evacuation protocols were due to start at the same time across the country (TVN).
  • TVN reported that the national exercise was built around an earthquake, while Sinaproc said each institution, company, school or community would follow the scenario in its own plan. One test was to be evacuating tall buildings, especially in central Panama City (TVN).
  • About 86 public institutions, shopping malls, banks and schools were to take part (TVN). The Education Ministry (Meduca) said 3,112 schools in its 16 regions had been called to join (Telemetro).
  • Hospitals and clinics of the Health Ministry (Minsa) and the Social Security Fund (CSS) were to run their own exercises, and residential buildings (propiedades horizontales) were also invited (TVN).
  • Participants were to scan a QR code to record where they were and answer a short survey, so the authorities could count people and measure evacuation times (TVN).
  • Sinaproc said it was planning for people with disabilities, older adults and others who might need help to get out (Sinaproc).

Why the turnout matters

Sinaproc director Omar Smith said last year's second national drill reached only about 10% of the population, and 55% of those taking part were students. The goal this year was to go beyond 10%, with more private companies involved (TVN). Smith asked people to stay calm, because it was to be a training exercise, not a real emergency. He also stressed that in a real event the first help usually comes from neighbours, friends and family, before Bomberos or Sinaproc can arrive (Sinaproc, Telemetro).

Reyes Jiménez, head of Sinaproc's academy, warned against social media advice to climb to the rooftop during an earthquake. The faster route, he said, is to go down and out after the shaking, to a meeting point away from the building, helping people with disabilities and pregnant women along the way (TVN).

Sunday warm-up in Casco Antiguo

On Sunday 11 October, Sinaproc had planned a Mass at 8:00 a.m. for Disaster Risk Reduction Month, then an awareness walk at 9:30 a.m. from the Reina Torres de Araúz Museum in Plaza 5 de Mayo to Parque Catedral, followed by an information fair on risk and civil protection in the same area (Sinaproc).

What it means for expats

If you live in a high-rise, we had suggested asking your building administrator whether the PH was joining, which stairwell to use and where the meeting point is. Practise the route down the stairs rather than the lift. If you work in a bank, mall or government office, the alarm was expected at 10 a.m., possibly with a short pause in service, so we had suggested avoiding errands at that hour. We had also suggested telling your children their school might evacuate, and agreeing a family meeting point in case phones fail in a real quake. Save 911 in your phone; Sinaproc also lists its lines 520-4426 and 520-4427 and a 24-hour WhatsApp, 6998-4809.

Sources

  • Sinaproc - Press conference at the Palacio de Gobierno: Third National Evacuation Drill on Mon 12 Oct at 10:00 a.m.; Decree 47 of 22 Apr 2024; target above 10% of the population; Sunday 11 Oct Mass, walk and fair - 7 Oct 2026 - https://www.sinaproc.gob.pa/panama-se-prepara-para-poner-a-prueba-su-capacidad-de-respuesta-ante-emergencias/
  • Sinaproc - Preparations: participating institutions, private sector and banks, QR codes, meeting points, people with disabilities and older adults - 1 Oct 2026 (upd. 7 Oct) - https://www.sinaproc.gob.pa/panama-avanza-en-la-preparacion-del-tercer-simulacro-nacional-de-evacuacion/
  • TVN - Omar Smith: 10% participation last year, 55% students; about 86 institutions, malls, banks and schools; all provinces and corregimientos; QR code survey; high-rise evacuation - 7 Oct 2026 (13:38 Panama) - https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/sinaproc-busca-superar-10-participacion-tercer-simulacro-nacional_1_2264812.html
  • TVN - Earthquake scenario; rooftop warning; Minsa, CSS and Meduca exercises; residential buildings; QR timing - 23 Sep 2026 - https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/panama-realizara-simulacro-nacional-sismo-sinaproc_1_2262313.html
  • Telemetro - Meduca: 3,112 schools called to take part; motto "La resiliencia empieza en casa" - 7 Oct 2026 (09:31 Panama) - https://www.telemetro.com/entrevistas/nacionales/simulacro-nacional-evacuacion-pondra-prueba-la-prepacion-las-escuelas-n6094304
  • Telemetro - Omar Smith: neighbours, friends and family respond first - 7 Oct 2026 (13:41 Panama) - https://www.telemetro.com/nacionales/esta-preparado-una-emergencia-panama-realizara-simulacro-nacional-el-12-octubre-n6094366
  • TVN - Veraguas prepares; seismic scenario; evacuate quickly and in order, help people with reduced mobility, keep exits clear - 4 Oct 2026 - https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/provincias/veraguas-prepara-tercer-simulacro-nacional-emergencia_1_2264277.html
  • Sinaproc - Countdown to the Third National Drill; protocols follow the scenarios set by each institution, company, school or community; motto - 17 Sep 2026 - https://www.sinaproc.gob.pa/panama-activa-la-cuenta-regresiva-para-el-tercer-simulacro-nacional-de-emergencias/
  • Eco TV - Sinaproc suspends the Third National Evacuation Drill set for Monday 12 October, and all activities before it, until further notice - 10 Oct 2026
  • Panamá América - Sinaproc suspends all drill activities and Monday's exercise until further notice - 10 Oct 2026