One of the two bell towers of the San Juan Bautista Cathedral in Penonome city, Cocle province, collapsed after an earthquake struck midday on 9/10. The Spanish news agency EFE reported that the rest of the structure requires inspection to determine the extent of the impact.
Bishop Edgardo Cedeno stated that he and several priests were meeting inside the church when the earthquake occurred. Rescue teams arrived at the scene to inspect the structure and assess the damage. Officials have not yet released technical conclusions regarding the extent of damage to the main nave, the remaining bell tower, or the interior sections. There are also no reports of casualties at the church.
The San Juan Bautista Church, located on Juan Demostenes Arosemena Avenue in central Penonome, approximately 150 km from Panama City, stands as one of the oldest religious structures in the area. It is deeply connected to the city's formation during the Spanish colonial era in the 16th century.
Over its more than 440-year history, the structure has undergone numerous renovations. The bell tower built in 1882, for instance, suffered earthquake damage and had to be dismantled in 1913.
A new bell tower was constructed in 1917, while the second tower was added in 1994, creating the church's two-tower facade. The church underwent further restoration in 2014.
The church's interior houses many valuable historical religious artifacts. According to the Conoce Penonome document, a statue of the Immaculate Conception was brought from Quito, Ecuador, to Penonome in 1775. Another artifact, a statue of the Crucified Christ in the Quito art style, is believed to date from the late 17th to early 18th century. There is currently no information on the condition of these artifacts following the earthquake.
The church is a stop on the Penonome cultural and historical tourist route, connecting the old quarter of San Antonio, 8 de Diciembre Park, and various museums, allowing visitors to explore local history.
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The church before earthquake damage. Photo: EFE/ Bienvenido Velasco
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the 7.7-magnitude earthquake occurred near Tonosi, approximately 239 km from Panama City. Earthquakes are rare in Panama and typically concentrate in the western Chiriqui province, bordering Costa Rica.
Mai Phuong
