Earthquake in Venezuela: Foreign Ministry reports one Panamanian missing; search protocol activated

Panama's Foreign Ministry confirmed Thursday that one Panamanian citizen is missing after earthquakes struck Venezuela. The ministry has activated its Information Coordination Center (CECODI) to support families searching for information about their loved ones. Relatives of the missing Panamanian, who reside in Panama, have been unable to contact him since the tremors occurred.

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In Venezuela, today immersed in this sad catastrophe, the democratic community must raise its voice more strongly in favor of a real democratic transition and free and verifiable elections soon.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established contact channels, including phone numbers and an email address (cecodi@mire.gob.pa), for those needing to locate relatives in Venezuela. The Panamanian Consulate in Venezuela has temporarily suspended in-person services due to security measures, with staff vacating their offices while the building's condition is assessed following the seismic activity.

This situation was addressed during a meeting of the Community of Democracies, held as part of the 56th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS). Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino spoke about the crisis in Venezuela, urging the democratic community to advocate more strongly for a genuine democratic transition and free, verifiable elections. He also touched upon the deteriorating human rights situation in Nicaragua and the ongoing challenges in Cuba and Bolivia.

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in Nicaragua the deterioration of human rights is serious and documented. In Cuba the people continue to wait for the possibility of freely electing their rulers.

President Mulino expressed Panama's solidarity with Bolivia, calling for active support for its institutions against destabilization efforts. The Community of Democracies, a coalition of 31 member states founded in 2000, aims to strengthen democratic institutions and promote democratic principles globally. Panama is actively coordinating efforts to assist its citizens and address regional democratic concerns.

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the democratic government faces an offensive of destabilization driven by radical sectors and organized crime that seeks to forcibly alter a mandate born from the popular will. Panama expresses its solidarity once again with Bolivia and calls on this community to actively support its institutions.