--- title: "US forces mobilize to help Panama after major earthquake" description: "Troops are airlifting in supplies and personnel after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit southern Panama on Friday." date: "2026-10-10" modified: "2026-10-10" authors: - name: "Nicholas Slayton" job_title: "Contributing Editor" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/nicholas-slayton.md" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/us-troops-airlift-panama-earthquake/" categories: - "Americas" - "Around the World" - "News" --- # US forces mobilize to help Panama after major earthquake ![U.S. military personnel load up a helicopter to deliver supplies to Panama. U.S. Southern Command photo.]() *U.S. military personnel load up a helicopter to deliver supplies to Panama. U.S. Southern Command photo.* The US military is sending personnel, aircraft and humanitarian supplies to Panama after a [7.7-magnitude earthquake]() hit the country on Friday. In a statement Saturday, U.S. Southern Command said that it is organizing and deploying military personnel to join a relief effort in Panama, starting with aircraft and units already in Latin America. SOUTHCOM did not specify how many troops were mobilizing to help, but did say that the mission involves personnel from the Joint Security Cooperation Group-Panama as well as rotary-wing aircraft from Joint Task Force-Bravo, based in Honduras, which will airlift in supplies and personnel. The initial supplies included 2,000 pounds of food as well as thousands of cases of water. The troops will "provide specialized mobility services and support to U.S. government personnel who are working with Panamanian authorities to assess damage, locate the injured, and deliver critical, life-saving assistance," according to SOUTHCOM. "On behalf of U.S. Southern Command, our hearts go out to the people of Panama following yesterday's earthquake," Gen. Francis Donovan, the head of U.S. Southern Command, said in the announcement. "Because of our deep, expanding partnership, we are already on the ground providing immediate relief to our friends. We are proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our friends in this time of adversity." The quake hit along the country's southern coast, causing several buildings to collapse and prompting evacuations. At least 27 people have been injured, but no deaths are reported. Dozens of aftershocks have hit the country as well. The quake on Friday was felt in the capital Panama City to the east and as far as Colombia, according to the Associated Press. Panama's National Civil Protection Service said that 400 buildings were damaged across nine provinces, including health care facilities and bridges. This is the third time in less than six months that U.S. forces mobilized to assist Latin American nations after major earthquakes. In June, elements of the 621st Contingency Response Wing and Marines from Littoral Combat Force-24 arrived in [Venezuela]() following two earthquakes that killed thousands. Around 2,000 U.S. troops supported the weeks-long relief effort. The U.S. also airlifted supplies and personnel to [Colombia]() in August after a deadly earthquake. The U.S. military has extensive ties with Panama. The Army operates its [jungle warfare school]() at Aeronaval Base Cristóbal Colón. In August, troops took part in the PANAMAX exercise, which brought together forces from 19 nations. ## Author Nicholas Slayton is a contributing editor for Task & Purpose, covering conflict for over 12 years, from the Arab Spring to the war in Ukraine. His previous reporting can be found on the non-profit Aslan Media, The Atlantic, Al Jazeera, The New Republic, The American Prospect, Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, and the Los Angeles Downtown News. You can reach him at nicholas@taskandpurpose.com or find him on Twitter @NSlayton and Bluesky at @nslayton.bsky.social. ### Author social links [Twitter]()