Panama City: Suribeth Cortez, 22, is fighting for her life at Santo Tomás Hospital after being trapped under the rubble of a house during the 7.5 magnitude earthquake that shook the country last Friday, October 9. The young woman suffered blows to the head and underwent surgery; however, she remains intubated and her family awaits news about her progress. Ana, Suribeth’s aunt, recounted that the young woman was at her mother’s house in the Pájaro sector of Macaracas, in the province of Los Santos, when the earthquake struck. The house was completely destroyed, and a wall collapsed on top of her. Because she has difficulty walking, she was unable to escape and was trapped under the rubble.
“Well, she was at my sister’s house, where my sister lost the house completely. My sister tried to get her out, but while trying to get my mom out, when she went to get her, since she can’t walk well, a wall fell on her, and she was trapped under the rubble,” she recounted. Her mother and several neighbors managed to rescue her using sticks and whatever resources they had available. She was then taken to the Macaracas hospital and later to the Las Tablas hospital, where, according to her aunt, the family received a grim prognosis. Due to the severity of her condition, the young woman was airlifted to Panama City. On Saturday, October 10th, she underwent brain surgery. Although her family received word that the procedure was successful, they are still waiting to learn how she is progressing.
Ana explained that Suribeth is responding to medication, but has not yet regained consciousness and remains intubated with edema. The tragedy also struck Ana’s mother, an elderly woman with a disability who had a leg amputated and uses a wheelchair. During the earthquake, while they were trying to get her to safety, she fell from the chair and a beam hit her left arm, causing fractures. After initial surgery at the Las Tablas Hospital, she was preparing for another operation at the Ciudad de la Salud (City of Health) hospital.
“My mom is stable for now,” Ana commented. While her mother is stable, Ana’s main concern is the evolution of Suribeth, whose condition keeps the family in a state of uncertainty. Health Minister Fernando Boyd Galindo confirmed that Suribeth suffered a traumatic brain injury and also blunt abdominal trauma. “She had to be operated on for analysis because her hemoglobin was dropping. And then, she stabilized, she’s stable, she’s recovering, so we hope everything goes well, she’s in intensive care,” he said.
This is how the homes were left by Playa Malena in Mariato. Residents evacuated the area.
#NacionalCri Así quedaron las viviendas por Playa Malena en Mariato. Habitantes desalojaron el lugar. @VeraguasTeVe pic.twitter.com/uXODJVEIJi
— Diario Critica.Pa (@criticaenlinea) October 11, 2026
The post A Wall Collapses on her During the Earthquake in Macaracas. Young Woman Fights for her Life at Santo Tomás Hospital. appeared first on Newsroom Panama.